Category: Sports

The Chicago Sky announced Saturday they have successfully signed veteran guard Skylar Diggins as a free agent, landing the seven-time All-Star in what reports indicate is a two-year contract.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed by the organization.

The 35-year-old veteran brings impressive career statistics to Chicago, having compiled averages of 16.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals across 335 games during her 11-year professional career.

Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition in a team statement. “Skylar is a player we have coveted for years. We are ecstatic to bring her to Chicago,” Pagliocca said. “She is one of the all-time elite passers in our game and continues to play at a high level on both sides of the ball.”

Diggins holds the eighth position in WNBA history for career assists with 1,768 and ranks 25th all-time in scoring with 5,489 points. During her most recent campaign with the Seattle Storm, she contributed 15.5 points and 6.0 assists per game across 43 appearances.

Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh praised the veteran’s impact potential. “Diggins is the kind of player who elevates everyone around her,” Marsh stated. “Skylar is a true veteran leader, and she possesses unmatched speed and shot creation potential. I can’t wait to work with her.”

Saturday proved busy for Chicago’s front office, as they also secured forward Azura Stevens on a reported three-year contract and obtained guard Jacy Sheldon from Washington in exchange for their 2028 first-round draft selection.

The Sky made headlines earlier this week by trading standout Angel Reese to Atlanta, receiving two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 plus a 2028 second-round pick swap option in return.

LONDON – Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury dominated Russian fighter Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night, earning a decisive victory by unanimous decision before issuing a dramatic challenge to fellow British boxer Anthony Joshua.

The bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marked Fury’s return to the ring following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last October, where he unsuccessfully attempted to reclaim the WBC title he had previously lost to the Ukrainian fighter.

Joshua observed the action from ringside as Makhmudov initially found some success in the opening rounds, aggressively pressuring Fury against the ropes. However, the Russian struggled to inflict significant damage during these early exchanges.

The tide turned when the 37-year-old Fury began utilizing his jab effectively to maintain distance and control the pace. He started alternating his stance, moving defensively, and targeting his opponent with uppercut combinations. Whenever the 36-year-old Makhmudov attempted to clinch, Fury responded with powerful strikes to both the body and head.

As Makhmudov’s energy waned, Fury increasingly dominated the latter portions of the 12-round contest, carefully selecting his attacks while remaining largely out of harm’s way.

The judges unanimously awarded Fury the victory, with two scorecards reading 120-108 and the third scoring it 119-109.

Following his triumph, Fury seized the microphone to publicly challenge the 36-year-old Joshua in what would potentially become the most significant fight in British boxing history.

“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain. And here’s my challenge. I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next – do you accept my challenge?” he bellowed.

When given an opportunity to respond, Joshua declined to immediately accept but indicated the fight could materialize if negotiations proceed successfully.

“Tyson, I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you,” Joshua said. “I’ll stand across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to tell me what to do.

“I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions, and I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready.”

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer broke his left big toe during Saturday’s home matchup with the Minnesota Twins after a foul ball struck his foot, according to team officials.

The injury occurred in the third inning when Springer made contact with a 1-0 count pitch from Twins pitcher Joe Ryan, sending the ball directly into his left foot. Despite the painful impact, Springer remained in the batter’s box to complete his plate appearance, ultimately grounding out to the third baseman.

The veteran outfielder was later substituted by Myles Straw when the sixth inning arrived.

Earlier in the contest, Springer had drawn a walk during the opening frame and came around to score when teammate Dalton Varsho connected for a home run.

The 36-year-old veteran is currently in his sixth campaign with Toronto, posting a .189 batting average through 13 contests this season, along with two homers and six runs batted in. Since the 2022 campaign, Springer has appeared in no fewer than 133 games per season for the Blue Jays.

Before joining Toronto, Springer played his first seven major league seasons with the Houston Astros from 2014 through 2020, capturing World Series MVP recognition during Houston’s 2017 championship run.

Throughout his professional career, Springer maintains a .266 batting average with 295 home runs and 802 RBIs to his credit.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – While attention at Augusta National centered on Rory McIlroy’s commanding six-stroke lead at the tournament’s midpoint, world number one Scottie Scheffler delivered a powerful reminder Saturday that golf’s premier player should never be counted out of any competition.

Starting Saturday’s round trailing by what appeared to be an impossible 12 strokes, Scheffler mounted one of the most impressive third-round comebacks in recent Masters history. His flawless seven-under 65 tied the tournament’s best score and catapulted him back into championship contention.

“I did what I needed to do,” Scheffler commented after reaching seven-under for the tournament. “Went out and executed to give myself some opportunities, and more of that tomorrow, and I think I’ll be in a good spot.”

Scheffler’s performance showcased masterful course management and precise execution. He sank a six-foot eagle at the second hole, then added four birdies across a spectacular five-hole run at the turn, even as McIlroy was surrendering a stroke at the opening hole.

The two-time major champion from this season nearly moved even closer to the lead. His approach shot at the ninth hole barely missed dropping for another eagle, instead stopping four feet from the pin and generating thunderous applause from the crowded galleries.

“I didn’t fix anything,” Scheffler explained regarding his nine-stroke improvement from Friday’s round. “I felt like yesterday I played a lot better than my score, and then today early in the round I felt like I got a lot out of it.”

Scheffler came tantalizingly close to matching Augusta National’s course record of 63, shared by Nick Price from 1986 and Greg Norman from 1996. His pursuit ended at the 17th hole when an eight-foot birdie attempt slipped past the right edge of the cup.

Despite the near-miss, Scheffler displayed remarkable resilience at the final hole. After his tee shot found trouble beneath a bush, he skillfully recovered to the fairway and placed his third shot within a foot for par, preserving his outstanding round.

Historical precedent suggests Scheffler remains well within reach of victory. The largest 54-hole comeback in Masters history stands at eight shots, accomplished by Jack Burke Jr. in 1956.

“I feel like I left a few shots out there but overall it was a good day,” said Scheffler, who captured Masters titles in 2022 and 2024. “I don’t feel like I am out of the tournament.”

The Atlanta Dream made a major commitment to their core roster Saturday, announcing they’ve brought back guard Rhyne Howard along with four additional players for the upcoming season.

The franchise also retained Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones, Naz Hillmon and Jordin Canada as part of the signing announcement.

“This is a group that believes in Atlanta, believes in each other and is united in the pursuit of a championship,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “Allisha, Brionna, Jordin, Naz and Rhyne represent the standard we are building here in Atlanta; talented, unselfish and fully committed to winning. Their decision to continue building together, in this city and with each other, speaks to their belief in our vision and culture — one built to win, with great players and even better people.”

Dream coach Karl Smesko praised the returning players’ impact on the franchise. “These players have established the standard for Atlanta Dream basketball. Their work ethic, competitiveness and belief in one another drive everything we do. We’re excited to continue building with this group.”

The roster decisions follow Atlanta’s major trade earlier this week, when they obtained two-time All-Star Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky on Monday.

Howard, who turns 25, put up impressive numbers last season with 17.5 points per game while adding 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The Kentucky product entered the league as the first overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft.

Atlanta will begin their campaign May 10 with a road matchup against the Minnesota Lynx.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm struggled through his third round at Augusta National on Saturday, dropping to 50th place on the leaderboard at 5-over par after 54 holes.

The Spanish golfer found himself trailing leader Rory McIlroy by 17 strokes after closing his round with a bogey on the 18th hole, marking his third score of five on a par-4 during Saturday’s back nine.

“Well, the only thing about a weekend like today, once things are not going well enough, is you can start trying things just to see how it feels or how you can do it in competition, right?” Rahm explained. “Just a bit of what I did today. Probably what I’ll do tomorrow. Hitting it on the range is one thing; doing it on the golf course is a different thing.”

The 2023 Masters winner enters Sunday’s final round tied with fellow Spaniard and LIV Golf member Sergio Garcia. After barely making the cut following an opening round 78, Rahm bounced back with a 70 on Friday before Saturday’s third-round setback.

His Saturday round began promisingly with birdies on holes one and three, putting him at 2-under before things unraveled. He finished the round with a 73 after recording bogeys on the 5th, 11th, 14th, and 18th holes.

The former world number one admitted he used the later holes of his third round to experiment with aspects of his game that he typically wouldn’t attempt during tournament play.

When asked about adjusting from LIV Golf competition back to PGA Tour events, Rahm dismissed any concerns. “Golf is golf,” he stated, noting his strong performance in LIV events where he recorded 17 top-five finishes in his first 30 starts.

Rahm acknowledged he has theories about his poor performance this week but declined to share specifics. He did hint that putting, rather than swing mechanics, might be the issue.

“I’ll tell you one thing: My putting hasn’t been the best and I’ve been putting the line the last two days which I rarely ever do, right, just to help me a little bit,” he revealed.

With his position far down the leaderboard, Rahm’s chances for his 77th career top-10 finish appear slim, and even a top-25 finish would require an exceptional final round. He had expressed pessimism about his chances even before Saturday’s round.

“I’m going to need an absolute miracle,” he said Friday.

That miracle failed to materialize, and Rahm now faces the possibility of watching McIlroy capture the green jacket while maintaining his commanding lead.

McIlroy has been vocal about the LIV Golf situation and recently criticized Rahm’s unwillingness to meet DP World Tour requirements for Ryder Cup eligibility, calling the tour’s offer “a really generous deal.”

Looking ahead, Rahm has never captured the PGA Championship, which takes place May 14-18 at Aronimink Golf Club, followed by the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in June. He claimed the U.S. Open title in 2021 and has two top-10 finishes in 10 PGA Championship appearances.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – Irish golfer Shane Lowry created one of Saturday’s most thrilling moments during the third round of the 2026 Masters tournament, recording a spectacular hole-in-one on Augusta National’s sixth hole.

Using a seven-iron on the 190-yard par-three known as Juniper, Lowry’s shot landed on the green, bounced twice, and rolled perfectly into the cup’s left edge, sending spectators into wild celebration.

The emotional response from Lowry was immediate and unrestrained – he threw his head back, pumped both fists toward the sky, then embraced his caddie Darren Reynolds and playing partner Tommy Fleetwood in pure joy.

When Lowry collected his ball from the hole, he continued celebrating with the crowd, playfully pretending to toss the ball before tucking it away as a keepsake while flashing a huge smile.

The remarkable shot propelled Lowry to eight-under par for the tournament, placing him in a second-place tie just four strokes behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy.

This achievement makes Lowry the first golfer in Masters history to record two holes-in-one, having previously aced the par-three 16th hole in 2016.

Saturday’s ace marks the tournament’s first hole-in-one since Stewart Cink accomplished the feat at the 16th hole in 2022, and represents the 35th ace in Masters tournament history.

The Hawks delivered a commanding performance against the Hornets, cruising to an 11-4 victory behind exceptional individual efforts from two standout players.

Gonzalez Perez provided the offensive fireworks, launching two home runs to fuel the Hawks’ scoring attack. His power display helped propel the team to double-digit runs in the decisive win.

On the mound, De Jesus achieved a personal milestone by recording his first collegiate pitching victory. The right-hander’s strong outing on the hill proved crucial in securing the Hawks’ triumph over their opponents.

The lopsided victory showcased the Hawks’ balanced attack, combining explosive hitting with effective pitching to overwhelm the Hornets throughout the contest.

Michigan basketball coach Dusty May has earned a contract extension after leading the Wolverines to their second national championship and the most successful season in the program’s history.

Athletic director Warde Manuel made the announcement Saturday that May has agreed to the contract extension terms.

“He will be the leader of this basketball team for many years to come,” Manuel stated during Saturday’s championship celebration at Crisler Center.

The 49-year-old coach has completely transformed the Wolverines program in just two years, compiling an impressive 64-13 record since his arrival. The team finished this season with a stellar 37-3 record, culminating in their 69-63 championship victory over UConn on Monday.

This remarkable turnaround came after Michigan endured a program-worst 24 losses in the season before May’s hiring.

“I’m very grateful, and during the (NCAA) Tournament, I just told Warde I’m not leaving,” May told Big Ten Network. “And I probably ruined any leverage I could have had. It’s an honor to coach at this great institution, and I just look forward to what’s next.”

Before joining Michigan, May made headlines by leading Florida Atlantic to an unexpected Final Four appearance in 2023. During his six-year tenure at FAU from 2018-24, he posted a 126-69 record before taking over for Juwan Howard at Michigan.

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull has agreed to a new contract with the franchise, the team announced Saturday.

Hull, who was a restricted free agent, made her return official through a TikTok video featuring Fever standout Caitlin Clark. The organization did not reveal financial details of the agreement.

“Indy has been my home over the last four years, and there was no other place I could imagine playing right now. We still have unfinished business, and I’m so excited to continue building on all that we accomplished last season,” Hull said.

The 26-year-old guard enjoyed her most productive professional campaign last year, posting personal bests with 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game across 44 appearances, including 30 as a starter.

Throughout her WNBA career, Hull has maintained averages of 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest since Indiana selected her sixth overall in the 2022 draft following her Stanford career.

Fever chief operating officer and general manager Amber Cox emphasized the importance of retaining Hull’s services.

“Ensuring Lexie’s return was a high priority for us,” Cox said. “She represents the heart of our team, and that was never more evident than in our playoff run last season. She impacts every aspect of the game on both ends of the floor and is a vital member of our core group. We are thrilled to have her back in a Fever uniform.”

All-Star forward Dearica Hamby has reached agreement on a three-year deal worth nearly $3.5 million to continue her career with the Los Angeles Sparks, according to ESPN reports released Saturday.

The contract is fully guaranteed for the 32-year-old player who has made three All-Star appearances during her WNBA career.

This signing follows Friday’s announcement that Nneka Ogwumike would also be returning to the Sparks roster.

During the previous season, Hamby achieved personal bests with an 18.4 points per game average while shooting 57.2% from the field across 44 games, all as a starter. She also contributed 7.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest.

Hamby previously earned Sixth Player of the Year honors in both 2019 and 2020, and captured a WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022. Throughout her professional career spanning 366 games with 188 starts, she has maintained averages of 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Ogwumike, who previously won WNBA MVP honors, played her initial 12 seasons with Los Angeles before spending two years with the Seattle Storm.

In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the tennis world, Belgium eliminated the heavily favored United States team on Saturday to earn a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The Americans, who have captured the title 18 times, fell victim to one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.

The decisive moment came in Ostend, where Greet Minnen, ranked 149th in the world, delivered the knockout blow with a straight-sets triumph over Iva Jovic, winning 7-5, 6-3. This victory sends Belgium back to the finals stage for the first time in two years.

Meanwhile, Great Britain earned their finals berth with a convincing 3-1 triumph over Australia in Melbourne. The British team wrapped up their victory in the doubles competition after establishing a commanding 2-0 advantage following Friday’s individual matches.

The duo of Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage put the finishing touches on Britain’s success, defeating Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4. Their victory ended the Australian pair’s remarkable winning streak in doubles competition that stretched back to November 2022.

Defending champions Italy also punched their ticket to the finals following a 3-1 home victory against Japan on clay courts in Velletri. After carrying a 2-0 lead into Saturday, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani sealed Italy’s advancement with a 6-2, 7-5 doubles victory over Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi.

Ukraine earned a consecutive finals appearance with an impressive 4-0 sweep of Poland in Gliwice. Sisters Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok provided the clinching point with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory over Maja Chwalinska and Martyna Kubka. Oleksandra Oliynykova then capped off Ukraine’s dominant weekend with a 6-4, 6-1 win against Linda Klimovicova.

Spain secured an insurmountable 3-1 advantage over Slovenia in Portoroz, with Aliona Bolsova and Sara Sorribes Tormo completing the qualification with a 6-4, 6-3 doubles triumph over Veronika Erjavec and Nika Radisic.

Kazakhstan advanced after Yulia Putintseva survived an epic three-hour and 39-minute battle against Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in Astana. Putintseva’s grueling 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4) victory provided her team with an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their best-of-five matchup.

In other action, Linda Noskova kept the Czech Republic’s hopes alive by defeating Belinda Bencic 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(9) to even their series with Switzerland at 2-2, setting up a winner-take-all final singles match.

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals are scheduled to take place in Shenzhen from September 22-27, with host nation China automatically qualifying for the event.

Forward Satou Sabally, a three-time WNBA All-Star, has committed to a multi-year agreement with the New York Liberty, according to ESPN reports from her agents on Saturday.

Representatives from WME Basketball chose not to reveal specific contract details for Sabally, who was born in New York.

During the previous season with the Phoenix Mercury, the forward led her team in scoring with 16.3 points per game while also contributing 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists across 39 games, starting in every contest. Sabally played a key role in the Mercury’s run to the WNBA Finals, though a concussion suffered in the third game of the series prevented her from participating in the championship series finale.

Throughout her professional career spanning 136 games with both the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury, the 27-year-old has maintained averages of 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, starting in 126 of those contests.

The NBA regular season wraps up Sunday with an unprecedented level of uncertainty surrounding playoff positioning and matchups.

Currently, only 10 teams have secured their exact playoff seeding positions in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, while 10 other franchises know their campaigns will conclude Sunday. The remaining 10 squads enter the season’s final day with various degrees of uncertainty about their postseason fate.

When Sunday’s games conclude, only four opening-round playoff series will be determined, along with the initial four play-in tournament matchups scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder expressed his team’s enthusiasm despite the uncertainty surrounding their playoff positioning. The Hawks have clinched a playoff spot but remain unsure whether they’ll claim the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

“We’re just excited to be in this situation,” Snyder commented. “Whoever we play is going to be really good. It’s hard to even try to figure that out. It’s possible that certain teams want to play us. … We don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s hard to predict all these games that are going on. Wherever it falls is how it falls.”

While no franchise requires a victory Sunday to continue their season, the stakes remain high for playoff positioning. Among the 20 teams guaranteed at least one additional game beyond the regular season, seeding battles could significantly impact bracket positioning.

Should San Antonio defeat Denver, the Spurs would avoid potential matchups with Oklahoma City or the Nuggets until reaching the Western Conference finals. Meanwhile, a Denver loss combined with a Lakers victory over Utah would secure the No. 3 Western Conference seed for LeBron James and Los Angeles.

Lakers coach J.J. Redick acknowledged the competitive landscape his team faces entering the postseason.

“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick stated. “Let’s get that out there — everybody wants to play us. There are probably teams that are in a position where they can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well.”

Current playoff seeding includes Detroit claiming the top Eastern Conference spot, with Oklahoma City securing the Western Conference’s No. 1 position. Boston holds the East’s second seed, while San Antonio claims the West’s No. 2 spot. Additional confirmed positions include New York (East 3), Cleveland (East 4), Houston (West 5), Minnesota (West 6), Phoenix (West 7 play-in), and Golden State (West 10 play-in).

Several teams remain in limbo regarding their final positioning. Denver and the Lakers will battle for the West’s 3 or 4 seeds, while Atlanta awaits determination of their 5 or 6 Eastern Conference placement.

Toronto, Orlando, and Philadelphia have secured playoff or play-in berths with seeding still undetermined. The Clippers, Portland, Charlotte, and Miami have clinched play-in positions but await final seeding.

Ten franchises will see their seasons conclude Sunday: Milwaukee, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, Sacramento, Utah, Brooklyn, Indiana, and Washington.

Individual statistical championships have been virtually decided barring extraordinary circumstances. Luka Doncic leads scoring at 33.5 points per game, though he won’t play Sunday and will miss the 65-game threshold for award eligibility. Denver’s Nikola Jokic leads both rebounding (12.9 per game) and assists (10.9 per game), while San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama tops blocked shots at 3.1 per game.

The draft lottery picture has largely crystallized, with Washington securing the worst record and best lottery odds at 14%. Indiana and Brooklyn will join Washington with equal 14% chances at the top pick, while Washington cannot fall below fifth in the lottery order.

Utah and Sacramento could both benefit from losses Sunday regarding draft positioning, particularly the Jazz, who could guarantee keeping a top-eight protected pick with a defeat.

The Los Angeles Angels have removed veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario from their roster on Saturday following a struggling start to the regular season that saw him collect just two hits across seven games.

As part of the roster move, the team brought back infielder Vaughn Grissom from the injured list to fill the open spot.

Candelario joined the Angels organization as a free agent signing on February 9th and received a spring training invitation despite struggling through two disappointing seasons while playing for Cincinnati. The 32-year-old veteran managed to secure a place on the team’s Opening Day roster after posting a .235 batting average during Cactus League play, though he did show promise with four home runs and 11 RBIs during spring training.

However, that offensive production failed to carry over into regular season play. Through his seven appearances with the Angels, Candelario managed a 2-for-18 performance at the plate, with both hits being doubles. He failed to record any RBIs while striking out eight times during his brief stint with the team.

The veteran player brings 11 years of major league experience to his record, having accumulated 110 career home runs, 384 RBIs, and a lifetime .236 batting average while playing for five different organizations.

Grissom, who is 25 years old, joined the Angels through an offseason trade with the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league outfielder Isaiah Jackson.

The returning infielder has spent the majority of the previous two seasons playing for Triple-A Worcester but brings major league experience to the roster. Between 2022 and 2024, he appeared in 95 games for both the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, posting a .255 batting average with 82 hits. During that span, he contributed five home runs and 33 RBIs while scoring 39 runs.

A three-member appeals panel has rejected the NFL Players Association’s challenge to an earlier arbitration decision, dismissing claims that teams conspired to limit quarterback contract guarantees during 2022 negotiations.

The Friday ruling confirmed arbitrator Christopher Droney’s January 2025 decision in a dispute centered on whether franchises engaged in coordinated efforts to suppress contract values for quarterbacks Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Russell Wilson.

While the appeals panel found the NFL acted “improper” in inviting teams to “participate in collusion,” they determined the evidence failed to demonstrate that clubs actually engaged in the alleged coordinated behavior.

The players’ union argued that Deshaun Watson’s unprecedented five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal with Cleveland in March 2022 prompted ownership to coordinate their response, resulting in the three quarterbacks receiving significantly lower guaranteed money.

Murray, currently playing for Minnesota, secured a five-year, $230.5 million extension with Arizona on July 21, 2022, featuring $159 million in guarantees.

Baltimore’s MVP quarterback Jackson signed his five-year, $260 million extension on April 27, 2023, with $185 million guaranteed.

Denver traded for Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson and signed him to a five-year, $242.5 million deal with $161 million guaranteed on September 1, 2022. Following two disappointing seasons, Denver released Wilson, who has since signed one-year deals with Pittsburgh and the New York Giants.

These contract details come from Spotrac, which tracks Wilson’s career earnings at approximately $316 million, ranking fourth in NFL history.

Watson’s trade came amid sexual misconduct allegations from more than 20 massage therapists who filed lawsuits against him. On March 18, 2022, Houston traded Watson and a future fifth-round pick to Cleveland for three first-round selections, plus third and fourth-round picks.

Watson enters his contract’s final year and will hit free agency when the league year ends. Cleveland has restructured his deal multiple times for salary cap flexibility, but he’ll still receive the full contract value.

Due to suspension and injuries, the 30-year-old Watson has played only 19 games across four Cleveland seasons, posting a 9-10 record. With those seasons valued at $184 million, he’s earned nearly $9.7 million per game appearance.

Chicago Sky officials announced Saturday they have obtained guard Jacy Sheldon from Washington in a trade that sends a first-round 2028 draft selection to the Mystics.

The 25-year-old guard has compiled statistics of 6.3 points per game, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds across 70 professional contests, including 43 as a starter. Her WNBA journey has taken her through Dallas Wings in 2024, Connecticut Sun in 2025, and most recently Washington in 2025.

Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca praised the acquisition, stating: “Jacy made an impression on us with her toughness, competitiveness and ability to compete on both ends of the court. She has proven to be a great young player who can shoot the ball and defend in this league. Jacy fits what we are looking for seamlessly.”

Dallas selected Sheldon as the fifth player taken in the 2024 WNBA Draft following her collegiate career at Ohio State University.

The Sky will begin their 2026 campaign on May 9th with a road matchup against the newly formed Portland Fire expansion franchise.

Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine is scheduled to undergo surgical repair of a torn left hamstring next week, with an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks, MLB.com reports.

The Marlins added Conine to their 10-day injured list on Friday following the hamstring tear diagnosis. The surgical procedure will be performed by Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas.

The 28-year-old player sustained the injury during the sixth inning of Thursday’s 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at home. Conine felt discomfort following an unsuccessful attempt to make a diving catch in left field.

Through 11 games this season, Conine has posted a .273 batting average, going 6-for-22 at the plate with two home runs, four RBIs, and two stolen bases.

This marks the second consecutive year that Conine has faced a significant injury setback, as he sat out the majority of the 2025 season following surgical repair of a dislocated left shoulder.

The Chicago Sky welcomed back forward Azura Stevens on Saturday after the free agent spent three seasons playing for the Los Angeles Sparks.

While Chicago did not reveal contract details, ESPN sources indicate the 6-foot-6, 30-year-old player secured a three-year deal with her former team.

Stevens had a previous stint with the Sky spanning 2020 through 2022, during which she helped capture a WNBA title in the 2021 season.

“I’m truly excited to be coming home to join the Chicago Sky,” Stevens said in a statement. “This city means everything to me. The culture, the people, the passion for the game. To have the opportunity to come back to Chicago is amazing. I’m ready to get to work, embrace the moment, and give everything I have. Let’s work.”

During her most recent campaign, Stevens earned recognition as runner-up for Most Improved Player, while her 2022 finale with Chicago saw her finish second for Sixth Player of the Year honors.

Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca expressed enthusiasm about the reunion, stating: “We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring back Azura, a pivotal part of our championship team. Stevens brings a versatile element to our frontcourt as a shooter and shot blocker that we’re confident will pair nicely with the players we have under contract.”

Stevens delivered her strongest statistical performance during the 2025 season with Los Angeles, recording personal bests of 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game across 44 contests, all as a starter. She connected on 38.1% of her three-point attempts and ranked sixth league-wide with 47 blocked shots.

Throughout her professional career, Stevens maintains averages of 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds across 220 games with 134 starts, having played for Dallas Wings (2018-19), Chicago, and Los Angeles. The Wings selected her sixth overall in the 2018 draft.

Chicago begins their upcoming campaign on May 9 with a road matchup against the expansion Portland Fire.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy enters Saturday’s third round at Augusta National with a substantial six-stroke advantage as he seeks to strengthen his position for another Green Jacket victory.

The golfer from Northern Ireland delivered another outstanding round on Friday, capitalizing on a strong back-nine performance that included multiple birdies to post a 12-under-par total. Sam Burns and Patrick Reed, both from the United States, share second place at six-under par.

The 36-year-old McIlroy appears to be playing with increased confidence this season following his breakthrough Masters victory last year, which allowed him to achieve the career Grand Slam and remove the weight of long-standing expectations.

However, Augusta National has been the site of previous disappointments for McIlroy, and those difficult memories still linger in his mind.

Saturday’s third round will feature McIlroy paired with Burns in the final group, as sunny skies and hot temperatures are forecast to create challenging conditions on Augusta’s famously fast and undulating putting surfaces.

Three golfers from the British Isles – England’s Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, along with Ireland’s Shane Lowry – are currently deadlocked for fourth place at this year’s opening major championship.

Should McIlroy successfully defend his title, he would become only the fourth player in Masters history to win consecutive Green Jackets, joining the exclusive company of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.

The tournament champion will receive the iconic Green Jacket along with a winner’s prize of $4.5 million from the event’s total purse of $22.5 million.

The newly formed Toronto Tempo has made WNBA history by securing two star guards with maximum-value contracts worth over $1 million each, marking the league’s first seven-figure backcourt duo.

Marina Mabrey, 29, has agreed to a two-year deal that will pay her $1.2 million per season, according to reports. Brittney Sykes, 32, also signed a two-year maximum contract that qualifies for seven-figure compensation, establishing an unprecedented financial milestone for the women’s professional basketball league.

Both the franchise and the players’ representatives have confirmed the signings, with ESPN providing details about the contract values.

Toronto acquired Mabrey through the sixth overall selection in last week’s WNBA expansion draft.

“Marina plays with a level of confidence and edge that stands out,” Toronto general manager Monica Wright Rogers said in a news release on Saturday. “She’s a player who isn’t afraid of big moments, can create offense in a variety of ways, and brings a strong competitive presence every game. Identifying her in the Expansion Draft and now officially welcoming her to Toronto is an exciting step for our organization.”

During the previous season with Connecticut Sun, Mabrey posted averages of 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists across 35 games with 34 starts. Throughout her professional career beginning in 2019, she has compiled averages of 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 230 games and 152 starts while playing for four different franchises.

Sykes comes to Toronto through free agency following her inaugural All-Star appearance in 2025, during which she played for both Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm.

“Brittney is an elite competitor who impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” Wright Rogers said. “Her defensive versatility, toughness, and leadership set a standard, and adding a player of her caliber and All-Star experience is a significant step as we continue to build our roster.”

Last season, Sykes contributed 14.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game over 39 contests with 38 starts. Since entering the league in 2017, she has maintained career averages of 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists through 279 games and 211 starts across four teams, earning All-Defensive team recognition four times.

The Tempo also announced Saturday the addition of veteran guard Julie Allemand. The 29-year-old was Toronto’s second overall selection in the expansion draft.

Allemand contributed 5.4 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in 34 appearances for Los Angeles Sparks last season, starting 27 contests. The Belgian player has participated in 81 games with 53 starts across three franchises since her WNBA debut in 2020.

“Julie is a true point guard who brings poise, intelligence, and a team-first approach every time she steps onto the floor,” Wright Rogers said. “She has played and led at the highest levels internationally and in the WNBA, and her experience, voice, and feel for the game are incredibly valuable as we continue to build our identity.”

Dallas Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell was taken into custody Friday in a Texas suburb on drug-related charges, according to law enforcement officials.

The 27-year-old player was booked in Prosper, Texas, facing a felony charge for controlled substance possession along with a misdemeanor marijuana possession count, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Authorities have not yet released additional information about the circumstances surrounding Bell’s arrest, and the Dallas Cowboys organization has remained silent on the matter.

During the previous season, Bell appeared in every game for Dallas, making three starts while tallying 41 tackles, forcing one fumble, and securing his inaugural career interception. The team had anticipated Bell would vie for an expanded role in the upcoming season.

The defensive player recently inked a three-year extension in March 2025 valued at up to $12 million, but now faces potential disciplinary action from the league following his arrest. His salary cap impact stands at $2.833 million for the 2026 campaign.

Bell joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M University in 2022. Throughout his professional career spanning 48 games with 11 starts, he has accumulated 142 tackles, defended seven passes, and forced three fumbles for the Cowboys.

The Minnesota Twins announced Saturday that they have sidelined two players due to injuries, placing both relief pitcher Cody Laweryson and third baseman Royce Lewis on the injured list.

Laweryson, age 27, has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right forearm, with the designation dating back to Thursday.

Lewis, 26, was added to the 10-day injured list for a sprained left knee, effective retroactively to Friday.

To maintain their 26-player roster, Minnesota brought up utility player Ryan Kreidler and right-handed pitcher Andrew Morris from their Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul.

This season, Laweryson has appeared in five games coming out of the bullpen with a 4.26 earned run average and no wins or losses recorded. The right-handed pitcher has recorded eight strikeouts while issuing two walks across 6 1/3 innings of work.

Through 12 games this season, Lewis has posted a .222 batting average with eight hits in 36 at-bats. He currently sits in second place on the team for both home runs with two and runs batted in with eight.

Multiple media sources confirmed Saturday that the New York Mets will promote veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel from their minor league system.

The 37-year-old pitcher inked a minor league contract with New York back in January after bouncing between several organizations in recent years.

Kimbrel boasts an impressive resume as a nine-time All-Star selection and holds the fifth-highest save total in baseball history with 440. His standout rookie season in 2011 earned him National League Rookie of the Year honors while playing for Atlanta, marking the beginning of four consecutive seasons leading the NL in saves.

During his prime years, Kimbrel dominated as a closer, notching 39 saves with San Diego in 2015 and maintaining over 30 saves annually during his three-year stint with Boston from 2016 through 2018. However, his effectiveness began to wane after that period.

The veteran has moved frequently in recent years, suiting up for seven different major league clubs over the last seven seasons. In 2024, Kimbrel appeared in 42 minor league contests across three organizations – Atlanta, Texas, and Houston – while making only 14 big league appearances, with 13 coming for the Astros and one for the Braves.

Throughout his career, Kimbrel has compiled a 56-48 record with a 2.58 ERA across 851 relief outings.

Saturday’s initial reports did not specify which player would be sent down to make roster space. The move comes after right-handed starter Clay Holmes exited Friday’s 4-0 defeat to Oakland in the sixth inning due to left hamstring tightness.

MONTE CARLO, April 11 – Italy’s Jannik Sinner dominated Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory Saturday, advancing to the Monte-Carlo Masters championship match.

The 24-year-old Italian, ranked second in the tournament, will compete in his first-ever final in Monaco against either top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz or French player Valentin Vacherot.

Sinner’s latest triumph continues his remarkable season after capturing both the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open championships last month. His achievement places him among elite company – only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have previously reached finals at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo within a single season.

“I’m very, very happy,” Sinner said. “We came here trying to give myself some feedback. Now finding myself in the final means a lot to me.”

“Every match, every day is different. I’m very happy about today’s performance. I felt really solid from the beginning. When you’re a break up straight away, it changes the dynamic of the match. Let’s see what’s coming in the final.”

Facing Zverev for the fourth straight Masters 1000 semifinal encounter, Sinner delivered an almost perfect first set performance, quickly establishing a two-break advantage before finishing with a backhand winner.

The second set featured more competitive play, remaining tied 4-4 before Sinner took control, breaking Zverev’s serve and securing the 6-4 victory.

Discussing his upcoming final opponent, Sinner recognized the difficulty either player would present.

“Carlos has a tough match now. Valentin continues to show what he’s capable of, especially here playing with the home crowd, even though Carlos is the favourite,” he said. “Assuming he wins, I’m looking forward to it.”

“These are matches I practise for; why I wake up. It’s great to have at least one match before Roland Garros against him. That’s for sure a big test for me. At the same time, I have nothing to lose.”

Saturday’s win improved Sinner’s overall record against Zverev to nine victories and four defeats.

Max Muncy delivered a spectacular performance Tuesday night, blasting three home runs including a dramatic walk-off solo shot with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers at home.

The thrilling finish marked Muncy’s second career three-homer performance and came after the Dodgers appeared headed for defeat. Texas rallied to tie the contest in the top of the ninth when Evan Carter launched a two-run blast and Ezequiel Duran followed with a clutch RBI single, both with two outs against Los Angeles closer Edwin Diaz, who suffered his first blown save of the campaign.

But Muncy answered immediately, connecting off Rangers reliever Jacob Latz (0-1) to secure the dramatic victory. Andy Pages also contributed significantly for the Dodgers with a home run and his fourth three-hit performance of the season. The win extended Los Angeles’ hot streak, marking their sixth victory in seven contests.

For Texas, Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford also found the seats with home runs, but the Rangers saw their three-game winning streak come to an end despite the late-inning heroics.

In other Major League action, the San Diego Padres continued their own hot streak with another walk-off victory, defeating the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Gavin Sheets’ game-ending three-run homer. Sheets crushed a 434-foot blast to right-center off Juan Mejia (0-2) for his second long ball of both the game and season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Chicago Cubs 2-0 behind Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer and Carmen Mlodzinski’s 5⅓ scoreless innings. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga held Pittsburgh hitless through six innings before the Pirates broke through in the seventh.

Arizona beat Philadelphia 5-4 as Ketel Marte and James McCann each drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks’ fifth win in six games. Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak by blanking Miami 2-0, with Keider Montero tossing six strong innings and Kenley Jansen recording his 478th career save, tying Lee Smith for third all-time.

Atlanta exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by home runs from Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II, to defeat Cleveland 11-5. Washington rallied from behind with four ninth-inning runs to beat Milwaukee 7-3, using three bunts and a hit batter to spark the unusual comeback.

The Los Angeles Angels routed Cincinnati 10-2 behind Jorge Soler’s grand slam and Jack Kochanowicz’s seven-inning, one-run performance. Toronto defeated Minnesota 10-4, with Brandon Valenzuela hitting his first career home run as part of a five-run fourth inning.

Oakland’s pitching staff combined for a six-hit shutout in a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets, while Kansas City’s Kris Bubic struck out a career-high 11 batters over seven shutout innings in a 2-0 win against Chicago White Sox.

St. Louis edged Boston 3-2 as Dustin May bounced back from early-season struggles with six solid innings. Tampa Bay spoiled Luis Gil’s season debut with a 5-3 victory over the Yankees, Seattle snapped a five-game skid by beating Houston 9-6, and San Francisco defeated Baltimore 6-3 behind strong performances from Willy Adames, Casey Schmitt and Jung Hoo Lee.

The Atlanta Hawks guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs with a dominant 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday evening, ending a two-year postseason drought.

CJ McCollum led Atlanta’s offensive charge with 29 points, putting up 25 of those in the opening half, while Dyson Daniels achieved his second career triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Hawks (46-35) will secure either the fifth or sixth position in the Eastern Conference standings.

Jalen Johnson contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker also adding 18 points for the Southeast Division champions. McCollum was particularly effective from beyond the arc, connecting on six of his eight three-point attempts.

Atlanta took control during the third quarter, building a commanding 92-59 advantage as Alexander-Walker and Johnson each scored 11 points in the period to put the game away.

For Cleveland (51-30), James Harden tallied 20 points and five assists, while Tyrese Proctor scored 15 points in the final quarter. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will host either Atlanta or Toronto in the opening round of the playoffs.

Lakers 101, Suns 73

LeBron James recorded 28 points and 12 assists, becoming just the fourth player in league history to surpass 12,000 career assists, as Los Angeles dominated visiting Phoenix in convincing fashion.

Luke Kennard contributed 19 points in the victory that ensures Los Angeles will finish no lower than fourth in the Western Conference with home-court advantage for their first-round series. The Lakers trail third-place Denver by one game with one contest remaining, holding the tiebreaker advantage.

Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 12 points and Royce O’Neale added 11 off the bench for the Suns, who played without injured star Devin Booker (ankle). Phoenix managed only 25 second-half points in a meaningless game after already securing the seventh seed and a home play-in contest. Grayson Allen left in the second quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return.

76ers 105, Pacers 94

Tyrese Maxey poured in 32 points and Andre Drummond delivered a double-double from the bench as Philadelphia guaranteed finishing no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference with a road victory over Indiana.

With Joel Embiid sidelined due to appendicitis, Drummond stepped up with 10 points and 16 rebounds. The 76ers halted a three-game losing streak and remained in contention for the East’s sixth and final automatic playoff position.

Jarace Walker paced Indiana with 17 points, while Micah Potter recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who have dropped four of their last five contests.

Pistons 118, Hornets 100

Jalen Duren scored 20 points on efficient 8-for-11 shooting as Detroit used a strong fourth-quarter surge to defeat host Charlotte.

Duncan Robinson added 19 points, Cade Cunningham scored 14, Ronald Holland II contributed 13, and Ausar Thompson chipped in 12 for the Pistons, who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already secured first place in the Eastern Conference.

The defeat forces Charlotte into the East’s play-in tournament, eliminating their chance for direct playoff qualification. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 27 points, including six three-pointers, while Brandon Miller added 22 points. Coby White, returning from groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench.

Additional Results

In other Friday action, AJ Green set a career high with 35 points in Milwaukee’s 125-108 victory over Brooklyn, while Jonas Valanciunas posted season highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds in Denver’s 127-107 win over Oklahoma City.

Utah snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 147-101 rout of Memphis, Sacramento beat Golden State 124-118, Miami crushed Washington 140-117, New York secured the third seed with a 112-95 win over Toronto, and Portland defeated the Clippers 116-97.

Orlando extended their winning streak to five games with a 127-103 victory over Chicago, San Antonio pounded Dallas 139-120 behind Victor Wembanyama’s 40 points, Boston tied an NBA record with 29 three-pointers in a 144-118 win over New Orleans, and Minnesota ended Houston’s eight-game winning streak 136-132.

Victor Wembanyama delivered a masterful performance following his recent injury layoff, putting up 40 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 139-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night in their second-to-last regular season matchup.

The impressive win pushed the Spurs’ record to 62-19, securing them the Western Conference’s second playoff seed ahead of the April 18 postseason start. San Antonio has been nearly unstoppable lately, capturing 14 victories in their last 15 outings. Their 62-win campaign marks their best performance since posting 67 wins during the 2015-16 season and ranks as the third-highest total in team history.

The French phenom also contributed five assists and two blocks before heading to the bench for good with 8:35 remaining in the final quarter, as San Antonio held a comfortable 120-100 cushion. The Spurs coasted through the closing minutes, expanding their advantage to 24 points while completing a perfect 4-0 season series against Dallas.

De’Aaron Fox chipped in 18 points and 10 assists for San Antonio, while Keldon Johnson contributed 17 points. Harrison Barnes added 15, Julian Champagnie scored 14, Dylan Harper posted 13, and Carter Bryant finished with 12 points.

Cooper Flagg paced the struggling Mavericks (25-56) with 33 points, followed by Max Christie’s 16. Khris Middleton contributed 14 points, while Ryan Nembhard and AJ Johnson each scored 13, and John Poulakidas added 12. Dallas was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention long ago.

Wembanyama, who had missed a game and a half due to a left rib injury and needed at least 20 minutes of court time to meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold for postseason honors, came out firing early. He netted 11 of San Antonio’s first 15 points and closed the opening quarter with 16 points, five boards, and one block as the Spurs built a 37-26 edge.

Dallas fought back in the second quarter, seizing a 63-62 lead when Middleton drained a three-pointer with 1:47 left before intermission, capping a 15-2 surge. Wembanyama responded by scoring six of the final eight points before halftime, giving San Antonio a 68-65 lead at the break.

Flagg topped all scorers with 25 first-half points while Christie added 13 for the visitors. Wembanyama’s 24 points led the Spurs, with all nine San Antonio players who entered the game contributing at least two points.

The Mavericks briefly regained the lead at 81-79 following Flagg’s layup with 7:55 left in the third quarter, but San Antonio answered with a devastating 20-4 run over the next five and a half minutes to seize control for good. The Spurs carried a 108-93 advantage into the final period.

Max Muncy delivered a dramatic walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning Friday night, completing his three-homer performance and lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-7 comeback victory over the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium.

The clutch blast marked Muncy’s second career three-homer game and capped a thrilling finish that saw the Dodgers overcome their closer’s first blown save of the season. Edwin Diaz surrendered the lead in the ninth but was credited with the victory.

Los Angeles extended its hot streak with a sixth win in seven contests, recording their sixth comeback victory this season while becoming the first Major League Baseball club to reach 10 wins in 2026.

Andy Pages continued his outstanding early-season performance, connecting for his team-high fourth home run of the year – a crucial two-run blast in the eighth inning that put the Dodgers ahead 7-4. Pages also delivered a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth frame, giving Los Angeles a 5-4 advantage after trailing 4-2. The young outfielder recorded his fourth three-hit performance of the campaign.

The scoring began when Muncy launched his first homer in the second inning for a 1-0 Dodgers lead. Former Los Angeles star Corey Seager quickly responded with a three-run shot to put Texas on top.

Seager, who captured two All-Star selections, National League Rookie of the Year honors, and both World Series and NLCS MVP awards during his time with the Dodgers, connected for his second three-run homer against his former club.

Muncy’s second long ball trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth inning. Wyatt Langford then took Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow deep to extend Texas’ lead to 4-2 before Hyeseong Kim added a sacrifice fly for Los Angeles.

Pages’ eighth-inning homer appeared to put the Dodgers in command heading to the final frame, but Diaz encountered trouble in the ninth. The closer allowed a two-run homer to Evan Carter and a game-tying single to Ezequiel Duran with two outs, setting up Muncy’s heroics against Rangers reliever Jacob Latz, who suffered his first loss of the season.

Before the first pitch, the Dodgers honored the memory of Davey Lopes with a moment of silence. Lopes, who died earlier this week, served as the team’s second baseman for much of the 1970s and early 1980s as part of one of baseball’s most successful infields.

Nine-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has agreed to a seven-figure contract with the Connecticut Sun, according to reports from the team’s sideline reporter and ESPN.

The announcement came Friday night that Griner, who had a disappointing statistical season with the Atlanta Dream, will receive the substantial contract from the Sun. The Dream organization is set to move to Houston in 2027.

The 35-year-old center hails from Houston and played college basketball at Baylor University.

The Phoenix Mercury made Griner the top pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, where she developed into a two-time scoring leader and helped capture a championship in 2014.

After her highly publicized international detention in 2022, Griner played two additional seasons with Phoenix before moving to Atlanta for the previous season. During her time with the Dream, she posted career-worst numbers with 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while making 25 starts in 39 appearances.

Throughout her career, Griner has earned six All-WNBA selections and claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors twice.

Connecticut struggled significantly last season, finishing with an 11-33 record and a .250 winning percentage that marked the worst performance in the franchise’s existence.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made baseball history Friday night, surpassing Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s record for the longest consecutive on-base streak by a player born in Japan.

Ohtani accomplished the feat by recording a base hit in the fifth inning against Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker, marking his 44th consecutive game reaching base safely. The streak spans across two seasons, beginning on August 24 and continuing through the final 31 contests of the previous campaign, plus all 13 games he has appeared in this year.

The previous benchmark was set by Suzuki during his time with the Seattle Mariners in 2009, when he safely reached base in 43 straight games. Ohtani has previously expressed his admiration for Suzuki during his youth in Japan.

This marks the second time Ohtani has eclipsed a record previously held by the legendary Suzuki. During the 2024 season, Ohtani swiped 59 bases, surpassing Suzuki’s mark of 56 stolen bases set in 2001 for most steals in a single season by a Japanese-born player.

Lakers superstar LeBron James etched his name deeper into basketball history Friday evening, joining an exclusive group as only the fourth NBA player ever to accumulate 12,000 career assists during Los Angeles’ home matchup against Phoenix.

The historic milestone occurred early in the opening quarter when James secured a defensive rebound and fired a full-court chest pass downcourt. Deandre Ayton hauled in the pass over defender Collin Gillespie and converted the basket with 7:49 remaining in the first period, marking assist number 12,000 for the Lakers veteran.

James now trails three legends on the all-time assists leaderboard. Utah Jazz icon John Stockton holds the record with 15,806 career assists, while recently retired point guard Chris Paul sits in second place with 12,552. Hall of Famer Jason Kidd occupies third position with 12,091 assists.

Should the 41-year-old James return for another campaign, he would likely surpass Kidd’s total. Whether he can eventually catch Paul depends on his physical condition and how many games he appears in going forward.

Coming into Friday’s contest, James was posting 7.1 assists per game this season in his 59th appearance of the 2025-26 campaign.

Throughout his illustrious career, James maintains a 7.4 assists per game average.

Friday night’s NBA action featured an unusual sight: many of the league’s biggest stars watching from the sidelines as teams approached the final weekend of regular season play.

The matchup between Oklahoma City and Denver could have showcased two recent MVP winners – Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this year’s reigning champion, and three-time winner Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. Instead, both players remained on the bench alongside their fellow starters.

This pattern repeated across the league, with an extraordinary 168 players sidelined Friday evening due to various injuries, illnesses, or rest decisions. The Memphis Grizzlies alone held out 14 team members.

Friday marked game 81 for every NBA franchise – their penultimate contest before Sunday’s season finale. With Saturday serving as a league-wide rest day, teams made strategic choices about player availability.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault explained his team’s approach to reporters before tipoff: “If we didn’t clinch (the No. 1 overall seed) coming into tonight, everybody would be playing. We’ve earned the right through 80 games to manage their bodies and stuff like that.”

Oklahoma City had already secured the top playoff position, making player health their main concern heading into the postseason.

Denver faced different circumstances, still competing for seeding position. Jokic remains one game short of eligibility requirements for major awards, making a Sunday appearance likely for the star center.

“We’re all aware of that,” Nuggets coach David Adelman confirmed to media members.

San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama provided Friday’s most interesting eligibility storyline. Needing exactly 20 minutes to reach the 65-game threshold for award consideration, the rookie was initially pulled after hitting that mark precisely. However, he convinced coaches to return him to action for additional development time.

Wembanyama concluded with an impressive 40 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists across 26 minutes of play.

“If I had 65 (games) before, I for sure wouldn’t have played,” Wembanyama stated.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson added: “We need as much on-the-job training, on-the-court experience together as we can. That’s what we’re trying to do without overdoing it.”

Boston provided Friday’s offensive highlight, connecting on 29 three-point shots to match the NBA record. This marked just the fourth instance in league history of a team achieving this feat, and the second occurrence this week following Memphis’s performance Monday against Cleveland.

“Hopefully, we didn’t use them all up in one game,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla commented.

Golden State took a different approach, using Friday to prepare for their upcoming play-in tournament appearance. The Warriors started Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis together for the first time this season.

“We’ll just take a look at that tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained. “We have a season full of data and film on some of the combinations. But some of decisions we have to make, there’s no data. It’s just kind of a hunch so we have give some of that a look tonight.”

Atlanta secured the 11th guaranteed playoff berth by defeating Cleveland, who rested star guard Donovan Mitchell.

“It feels great,” Hawks guard CJ McCollum said following their clinching performance. “The guys did a great job of rallying together.”

Friday’s results finalized several playoff positioning matters: Boston claimed the Eastern Conference’s second seed behind top-ranked Detroit. New York locked up third place in the East, while Cleveland’s loss guaranteed them fourth position. Atlanta confirmed their playoff spot as either the fifth or sixth seed.

Charlotte will participate in the play-in tournament after falling to Detroit. Orlando secured no worse than the 7-versus-8 play-in matchup in the East, while Miami locked into the 9-versus-10 play-in game.

Multiple sources reported Friday that the Philadelphia Eagles have obtained wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks through a trade with the Green Bay Packers involving two draft selections.

Green Bay reduced their deep receiving corps in exchange for a fifth-round draft choice initially belonging to Atlanta, plus a 2027 sixth-round selection, according to the reports. The upcoming NFL draft is scheduled to begin April 23.

The 24-year-old player has one season left on his initial contract but will remain with Philadelphia through 2027 after reportedly signing a one-year extension valued at $12.5 million.

The Packers chose Wicks during the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft from the University of Virginia.

During the most recent season, Wicks appeared in 14 regular-season contests with seven starting assignments, recording 30 catches on 46 attempts for 332 yards and two scores. His offensive participation rate was 47% with 408 snaps, a decrease from his 54% rate and 586 snaps across 17 games in 2024.

Throughout his professional career, Wicks has accumulated 108 catches on 180 attempts with 11 touchdowns over 46 regular-season appearances, including 18 starts. In postseason play, he has four receptions on 10 attempts for 64 yards and one touchdown across three games, all as a starter.

Green Bay’s remaining receiver group includes Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, 2025 first-round selection Matthew Golden, and newly signed free agent Skyy Moore.

Philadelphia’s receiving unit features A.J. Brown, the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowl selection who has been mentioned in trade speculation for several months.

The Eagles also feature DeVanta Smith and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown on their roster, with the latter joining the team on a one-year free-agent deal signed in March.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – Two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was among the prominent golfers eliminated from the Masters tournament Friday after a devastating final hole performance at Augusta National Golf Club.

The LIV Golf star entered the par-four 18th hole positioned one stroke within the four-over-par cutoff needed to advance to weekend play. However, his tournament came to a crushing end when he required two attempts to escape a bunker near the green, ultimately recording a seven on the hole that sealed his early departure.

DeChambeau had entered this year’s opening major championship with momentum from back-to-back victories on the LIV Golf tour, but struggled to replicate that success at the prestigious Georgia course. The golfer had been in contention during last year’s Masters, briefly taking the lead in the final round.

Several other notable players also failed to advance past the 36-hole cut, including 2025 U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun and former British Open winner Cameron Smith, who also competes on the LIV circuit. A significant group of past Masters winners were eliminated as well, featuring Danny Willett, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Fred Couples, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh, and Angel Cabrera.

Tournament officials at Augusta National reported that 54 golfers from 15 nations successfully advanced from the original field of 91 competitors.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy is making his title defense look effortless after firing a spectacular second-round performance at Augusta National Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman carded a seven-under-par 65 on Friday – the week’s best round – putting him at 12-under overall and creating a six-stroke advantage over Sam Burns and Patrick Reed. This marks the biggest 36-hole lead in the tournament’s storied history.

McIlroy’s breakthrough Masters victory last year, which came via playoff, completed his career Grand Slam and appears to have transformed his approach to the challenging Georgia course.

“I’ve always loved this tournament, I’ve always loved this golf course even when I felt it didn’t always love me back,” McIlroy shared with Sky Sports following his stellar round. “I feel like I’m playing with the house’s money which is a nice feeling to have.”

The 34-year-old finished his round with remarkable flair, recording six birdies across his final seven holes. The highlight came at the 17th where he chipped in from off the green, followed by sinking a six-foot putt on 18 for his fourth straight birdie.

Statistical trends favor McIlroy’s position. Over the past 14 Masters tournaments, every winner was within four shots of the halfway leader, giving him significant breathing room.

McIlroy credits his relaxed mindset to finally conquering Augusta after years of struggle, including his infamous 2011 collapse when he surrendered a four-shot final-round lead.

“Over the years this golf course is sometimes — you know, my mindset hasn’t been keep swinging. It’s been guided, tentative,” McIlroy explained to reporters. “I think the experience I’ve accrued over the years and obviously with what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging.”

Despite his commanding position, the four-time major winner has no intention of playing conservatively during the weekend rounds.

“Look, I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” he stated.

McIlroy acknowledges that Augusta National’s unpredictable nature means his lead isn’t safe, with numerous accomplished players still within striking distance on a packed leaderboard.

“Obviously this golf course has certain characteristics that guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf course,” he noted. “I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself.”

His strategy for the final two rounds centers on maintaining focus and avoiding distractions from the tournament’s electric atmosphere.

“It’s hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but like I know that I’ve got a lead. So I don’t need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing,” McIlroy concluded.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters Tournament field became significantly smaller for LIV Golf participants on Friday, as only five players from the Saudi-backed league survived the cut at Augusta National.

Leading the charge is England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who delivered the day’s second-best performance with a remarkable 6-under 66. Starting his morning round at 2-over par from the 9:31 a.m. tee time, Hatton climbed the leaderboard with seven birdies before briefly matching the overnight leaders at 5-under. A bogey on his closing hole dropped him back slightly.

The stellar round marked Hatton’s personal best at Augusta National by two strokes across 34 career rounds at the venue, representing just his fourth sub-70 score there.

“Today was a great day,” Hatton said. “Actually walking up 18, I was pretty confident that I couldn’t mess it up enough that I wouldn’t shoot my best score here. I mean, naturally I tried with a three-putt, so that was disappointing, to say the least.”

Hatton’s score initially appeared destined to be Friday’s best before Rory McIlroy caught fire with six birdies across his final seven holes, posting a 65. After two rounds, Hatton holds a tie for seventh position, trailing McIlroy’s lead by eight strokes.

His performance far exceeded that of his LIV Golf colleagues. Dustin Johnson claimed the next-best position at even par.

The remaining three qualifiers for weekend play were Sergio Garcia at 3-over, plus Jon Rahm and Charl Schwartzel, who both barely made the cut at 4-over par.

Bryson DeChambeau faced a crushing finish, needing only a bogey on the 18th hole to advance but instead recording a triple-bogey that dropped him to 6-over. This marked DeChambeau’s second triple-bogey of the tournament, following Thursday’s disaster on the 11th hole where he required three attempts to escape a greenside bunker.

Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson also held cut-line position until missing an 18-foot par putt on his final hole.

Current LIV Golf standings after 36 holes show Tyrrell Hatton tied for 7th at 4-under, Dustin Johnson tied for 24th at even par, Sergio Garcia tied for 45th at 3-over, Jon Rahm and Charl Schwartzel both tied for 47th at 4-over, with the eliminated players including Bubba Watson at 5-over, Bryson DeChambeau at 6-over, Tom McKibbin at 7-over, Cameron Smith at 7-over, and Carlos Ortiz at 11-over.

Regarding preparation differences between LIV events and major championships, Hatton dismissed any need for special adjustments.

“It’s another tournament that you’re at. You go on to the next hole, and you try your best,” Hatton said. “Wherever you play, whatever the tournament is, you’re always giving it your best, and you’re trying to prepare in a way to give yourself a chance to win the tournament.”

“I don’t think anyone that’s playing this week would change anything. That would be my guess. But yeah, every tournament you play, you’re trying to win. This week is no different in that sense.”

The Saudi-funded circuit entered with its smallest Masters field ever, further reduced after Phil Mickelson’s withdrawal last week due to family health concerns. LIV Golf’s Masters presence has steadily diminished since the league’s 2022 launch, dropping from 18 qualified players in 2023 to 13 in 2024 and 12 last year.

This year’s reduced number stems partly from recent departures of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed from LIV Golf. Additionally, Joaquin Niemann failed to receive an invitation after earning special invites the previous two years.

Both former LIV players are performing well this weekend, with Reed tied for second at 6-under and Koepka sharing 13th place at 3-under.

AUGUSTA, Georgia – English golfer Justin Rose maintains his competitive fire heading into the weekend at Augusta National, though he faces a steep climb to catch defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

The 45-year-old Rose, who suffered a playoff loss to McIlroy at last year’s tournament, carded a three-under-par 69 during Friday’s second round, positioning him in a tie for fourth place at six-under overall – trailing the Northern Irishman by six strokes.

Despite being a three-time Masters runner-up, Rose insists his motivation remains as strong as ever.

“No, I feel the same, which is good,” Rose explained. “I think if I can feel the same, that means I’m doing a lot of other good things because I’m not feeling older and stuff like that. I feel the same. I feel in good form. I feel in good spirits.”

The 2013 U.S. Open winner acknowledged that while his desire to capture the Green Jacket burns bright, he’s careful not to force things on the course.

“I don’t really need to try any harder; know what I mean? I think trying harder is — I just think the experience in that is probably trying harder ain’t going to help me,” Rose said. “So that’s probably the dance I’m doing with myself.”

Rose will require a significant weekend collapse from McIlroy to have a realistic shot at his first Masters victory.

Friday’s round presented numerous challenges for the veteran golfer. He stumbled early with a bogey following a wayward drive, then encountered serious trouble at the fifth hole when his ball came to rest beneath a bush, threatening to completely derail his round before he managed to salvage par.

Rose’s fortunes changed dramatically around the turn. After securing his first birdie at the seventh hole, he strung together three straight birdies, including one at the par-four 11th that briefly put him atop the leaderboard. Although he dropped a shot at the dangerous 12th hole, he bounced back with a four-foot birdie putt at the par-five 15th.

“I felt like the round could have gone either way,” Rose reflected.

“I’m under a bush on No. 5, already one-over for the round. I felt like momentum was definitely going the wrong way at that point in my round, so I think I did a good job of digging in at that point and rebuilding the round, so I give myself a lot of credit for finding that momentum and finding that good play.”

Eighteen-year-old Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva, the tournament’s top seed, defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in a hard-fought three-set match on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournament in Austria.

The young Russian star delivered five aces and successfully converted five of her seven break point opportunities in the 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 victory over the 36-year-old fifth-seeded Cirstea, who is playing her final season on the professional tour. Following her second-set loss, Andreeva dominated early in the deciding set by capturing the opening three games, ultimately securing her quarterfinal win.

Andreeva’s semifinal opponent will be Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who pulled off an impressive comeback victory against Latvia’s fourth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko. Ruse fired nine aces during her 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 upset win, while Ostapenko struggled with her serve, committing 11 double faults throughout the match.

The tournament’s other semifinal will feature Austria’s Anastasia Potapova against Croatia’s Donna Vekic. Potapova dominated her fellow Austrian Lilli Tagger with a 7-6 (7), 6-0 victory, while Vekic eliminated Czech player Karolina Pliskova in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

The Atlanta Falcons made a significant roster move Friday by activating the fifth-year contract option for their star running back Bijan Robinson, securing his services through the 2027 season.

The 24-year-old Robinson just wrapped up an outstanding 2025 campaign that saw him break franchise records with 2,298 total yards from scrimmage, a figure that topped the entire NFL. His rushing statistics included 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a spectacular 93-yard scoring run that was the longest in the league. Robinson also proved his versatility as a receiver, hauling in 79 catches for 820 yards and four touchdowns.

Under the option year in 2027, Robinson will receive an $11.323 million base salary, according to Spotrac data. His current four-year rookie deal worth $21.9 million, signed in 2023, will pay him $1.1 million in base salary for 2026, along with a prorated signing bonus of $3.2 million and roster bonus of $2.6 million, creating a total cap hit of $6,986,809.

Atlanta’s newly appointed general manager Ian Cunningham praised Robinson’s abilities during last month’s NFL league meetings in Phoenix. “He is one of the best players at his position, one of the best players in the league,” Cunningham stated. “I was excited that I had already had the chance to get to know him and start some dialog with him.”

Robinson’s accolades include Pro Bowl selections in both 2024 and 2025, first-team All-Pro recognition in 2025, and NFL All-Rookie team honors in 2023.

The Falcons made Robinson the eighth overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft after his successful college career at Texas.

Throughout his professional career spanning 51 games with 50 starts, Robinson has accumulated impressive statistics: 805 rushing attempts for 3,910 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus 198 catches for 1,738 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions.

New head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized Robinson’s value both on and off the field during recent comments. “There’s no shortage in what he can do for the football team on the field,” Stefanski explained. “But also the person that he is off the field and what he brings to our locker room, and to the question earlier about culture and being a player-driven culture, he’s a driver of that just because of how he attacks each day.”

SEATTLE — A ceremony honoring baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki took an unexpected turn Friday when his newly unveiled statue suffered an embarrassing malfunction.

During the much-anticipated reveal outside T-Mobile Park, the bronze bat on Suzuki’s statue broke off as the covering was removed. Broadcaster Rick Rizzs was counting down from 51 — representing the jersey number the Seattle Mariners retired for their legendary outfielder — when the mishap occurred.

As the curtain dropped away and confetti filled the air, a distinct snapping sound echoed through the crowd when the bat detached and fell.

“Here it is! The statue of one of the greatest players in the history of the game!” Rizzs announced as celebratory music played outside the stadium.

The bronze sculpture shows Suzuki in his iconic batting position. Rather than being upset by the incident, the baseball great found humor in the situation, making a playful reference to Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera through his interpreter.

“I didn’t think Mariano would come out here,” Suzuki joked with a grin through the interpreter, “and break the bat.”

Stadium crews quickly addressed the problem, reattaching the bat to its proper position at the handle. Suzuki earned his place in baseball history last summer as the first player from Japan to enter the Hall of Fame, receiving an impressive 99.7% of votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The ceremony brought together Seattle’s three retired number honorees. Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11) joined Suzuki for the unveiling, with all three pulling away the statue’s covering together. Both Griffey and Martinez also have monuments outside the ballpark.

Suzuki, maintaining his good humor about the broken bat, suggested the flaw was somehow appropriate.

“In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,” Suzuki explained. “Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.”

Municipal leaders in Kansas City, Missouri have unveiled plans to finance $600 million through bond issuance for a brand new downtown baseball facility, hoping to prevent the Royals from following the Chiefs’ recent departure to Kansas.

On Thursday, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined nine City Council members in presenting legislation that would authorize the city manager to enter stadium negotiations with the Royals. The proposed venue would be constructed close to Union Station and the World War I museum, roughly six miles northwest from their existing home at Kauffman Stadium.

Officials estimate the total construction cost at $1.9 billion. Missouri passed legislation last year committing the state to fund half that amount at $950 million. With Kansas City’s proposed bond contribution, the Royals organization would be responsible for securing $350 million through private financing.

Both the Royals and Chiefs have called the Truman Sports Complex home since 1973, where Kauffman Stadium sits adjacent to Arrowhead Stadium on Jackson County-owned property. Current lease agreements end in 2031, and county residents voted down a tax extension in April 2024 that would have funded renovations for both facilities.

Team officials are also evaluating an alternative location approximately five miles north in North Kansas City.

Kansas lawmakers, who would need to authorize any deal to attract the Royals, appear reluctant after the state approved $2.4 billion in bonds this past December to fund 60% of a new $3 billion domed facility for the Chiefs in Kansas City, Kansas. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican, and Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Democrat, released a joint Friday statement congratulating Missouri and stating they were “looking forward to what’s ahead.”

The Kansas City Council may vote on the ordinance as soon as this Thursday, though City Manager Mario Vasquez emphasized that efforts to retain the team are “just beginning.”

In a Friday statement, the Royals expressed appreciation, saying: “We are grateful for their engagement in this process, as well as for the critical work of the State of Missouri, and look forward to more detailed conversations as we consider solutions that are best for our team, our fans, and our community.”

Sports economists have consistently found over decades that public stadium subsidies fail to justify their costs, as these facilities typically redirect economic activity rather than generate new regional growth. Despite this research, municipalities and states continue funding stadium construction and renovation projects.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe characterized the Royals as “a key economic catalyst” for the state.

“The State of Missouri is committed to continue working alongside the Kansas City Royals organization and the City of Kansas City to ensure the Royals remain in Missouri — where they belong,” Kehoe stated.

Among the 60 facilities housing MLB and NFL franchises, 49 operate under public ownership or on government-owned land.

Recent examples include New York state and Erie County contributing $850 million, representing 40% of the Buffalo Bills’ new $2.1 billion stadium cost. In Ohio, state and local authorities have committed $1.2 billion to cover half the expenses for a new Cleveland Browns facility, though litigation has delayed the state’s contribution.

Kansas officials have labeled the Chiefs’ stadium project as their state’s most significant economic development initiative ever. The franchise also intends to develop a surrounding retail complex and construct a new training facility in Olathe, Kansas.

The Seattle Mariners faced an embarrassing moment Friday when their ceremony honoring Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki took an unexpected turn.

During the unveiling ceremony at T-Mobile Park, the bronze statue’s bat broke off just above where the hands grip it as officials removed the navy blue covering. Suzuki himself was present for the dedication, standing alongside baseball legends Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and team owner John Stanton on the first-base side of the stadium. The legendary player covered his face with his hands and winced when he saw the damaged statue.

“I did not do that,” Griffey said.

The team responded to the mishap with humor on their social media accounts, sharing an image of a miniature version of the broken statue and writing: “Breaking: We’ve updated tonight’s Ichiro Replica Statue giveaway.”

“I didn’t think Mariano (Rivera) would come out here and break the bat,” Ichiro said through his longtime interpreter.

The bronze memorial captures Suzuki’s distinctive batting stance, showing him holding the bat perpendicular to the ground while his left hand crosses over his chest.

During his time with Seattle, Suzuki earned 10 All-Star selections as part of his Hall of Fame career. Over 14 seasons with the Mariners spanning 2001-2012 and 2018-2019, he maintained a .321 batting average and recorded 438 stolen bases.

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga delivered six spectacular no-hit innings Friday afternoon before Pittsburgh finally managed to connect against reliever Caleb Thielbar in the seventh frame.

The 32-year-old left-hander dominated the Pirates lineup, recording nine strikeouts while issuing just one walk. Imanaga threw exactly 100 pitches during his outstanding performance, with 68 finding the strike zone.

Pittsburgh’s breakthrough came when Ryan O’Hearn stepped into the batter’s box to face Thielbar, connecting on a 1-1 slider for a clean single to right field — the Pirates’ first base hit of the contest. Bryan Reynolds followed immediately with a towering blast to left field off Thielbar’s next offering, his third home run of the season, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 advantage on the cold Chicago afternoon.

The Pirates had managed just one baserunner against Imanaga prior to his departure. Oneil Cruz drew a two-out walk in the second inning, but the Cubs pitcher quickly escaped trouble by striking out rookie Konnor Griffin to end the frame.

Coming into Friday’s game, Imanaga was looking to bounce back from a rough start to the season, carrying an 0-1 record and 4.50 earned run average through his first two outings.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston medical facility following successful appendix removal surgery, the franchise confirmed Friday. The seven-time All-Star is now heading back to Philadelphia to continue his recovery.

Team officials stated that Embiid’s post-surgery rehabilitation will be overseen by Philadelphia’s medical staff working alongside the surgeon who performed the operation. No specific date has been established for when the center will resume playing basketball.

The 76ers fell to the Houston Rockets 113-102 on Thursday night while playing without their star player, who had undergone the medical procedure earlier that same day at a Houston area hospital. Following the defeat, Philadelphia now holds a 43-37 record and shares the eighth playoff position with Charlotte, though the 76ers hold the advantage in tiebreaker scenarios.

Both Philadelphia and Charlotte trail seventh-place Orlando by one game, with the Magic sitting at 44-36. Toronto and Atlanta, each with 45-35 records, currently occupy the final two direct playoff berths, staying two games ahead of the 76ers. With just two contests remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia would secure a play-in tournament berth if they suffer one additional loss or if both the Hawks and Raptors each win once more.

The 32-year-old Embiid has posted averages of 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds across 38 games this season, starting in each appearance.

The former MVP from the 2022-23 campaign has compiled career statistics of 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds over 490 games since Philadelphia selected him third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, starting every game of his professional career.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have decided to broaden their celebration of Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago and has been a devoted supporter of the baseball franchise for years.

Team officials revealed Friday their decision to distribute pope-themed caps to every person attending their August 11th matchup with Cincinnati. Initially, these commemorative items were only available to those who had bought special theme night tickets.

“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” Brooks Boyer, the chief revenue and marketing officer for the team, said in a release. “We viewed the promotion as a creative way to celebrate one of the franchise’s most popular fans, and by the overwhelming response we received, White Sox fans certainly agreed.”

The commemorative caps are designed to resemble the Pope’s miter, featuring the team’s sock emblem at the center. Team officials stated that supporters who had previously bought the special tickets will still receive their hat plus one extra item.

The pontiff, who was previously known as Robert Prevost, was present for Chicago’s 2005 World Series opening game versus Houston and witnessed his cherished team defeat the Astros 5-3 during their path to a four-game championship sweep and their first title since 1917.

This past May, the White Sox revealed a graphic display near the seat that honors Pope Leo and that historic moment. The pillar features an image of Pope Leo XIV waving, alongside a photograph from the television coverage showing the future pope seated with close friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.

During June, Rate Field held a celebration recognizing his selection as America’s first pope. The following month, during a pre-game tribute to the 2005 championship team, White Sox legend Paul Konerko received a jersey autographed by the pope, presented as a gift from one number 14 to another.

Pope Leo made headlines by breaking Vatican tradition when he wore a White Sox cap last year. This past October, he responded “they lost” to someone who shouted “go Cubs.” Just weeks ago, he gave a thumbs up gesture to a person who called out “God bless the White Sox!”

Major League Baseball announced Friday that Black player representation on opening day rosters has grown for two straight years, marking the first consecutive increase in at least 20 years.

According to MLB data, Black players comprised 6.8% of those on opening day rosters, injured lists, and restricted lists this season. This represents a jump from 6.2% in 2025 and 6.0% in 2024.

The 0.6% jump this season represents the largest single-year gain since the sport saw a 0.7% boost between 2017 and 2018.

Research from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida shows a stark contrast to historical numbers, with Black representation standing at 18% when their annual reports began in 1991.

Among the 64 Black players counted, 20 had participated in league development initiatives including the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI, and the Hank Aaron Invitational.

The league reported that 22 of these players are 25 or younger, while eight are over 32 years old. Black players averaged 27.8 years of age compared to the overall league average of 29.25 years.

Additionally, 17 Black players on opening day 40-man rosters were assigned to minor league teams, with seven coming from MLB development programs. Among this group was Milwaukee outfielder Blake Perkins, who joined the Brewers on March 26.

MIAMI — The Miami Heat officially released Terry Rozier on Friday, ending a troubled season for the player who faces federal charges connected to an illegal gambling scheme.

The procedural move was widely anticipated and frees up a roster spot for Miami to add another player ahead of the playoffs. Rozier’s lone appearance this season came during the team’s season opener against Orlando on October 22, though he never entered the game.

Federal agents took Rozier into custody at the team hotel the next morning. Authorities allege he provided insider information to help bettors win wagers on his statistical performance during a March 23, 2023 contest while he was still playing for Charlotte.

Miami has until Sunday to sign a replacement player before beginning play-in tournament action next week.

Following his arrest, the NBA immediately suspended Rozier indefinitely. Despite his legal troubles, he continued receiving his full $26.6 million salary throughout the season. Initially, Miami deposited the payments into an interest-earning account, but an arbitrator later determined Rozier should receive the funds directly.

The Heat acquired Rozier through a January 2024 trade with Charlotte, sending Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round draft pick in exchange. Miami was unaware of the ongoing federal investigation at the time. In an unusual move last month, Charlotte provided Miami with a second-round pick in this year’s draft, apparently to settle disputes over the undisclosed legal issues.

League rules required teams to release players with expiring contracts or team options by 5 p.m. Friday. Throughout the season, Miami continued including Rozier on injury reports with a “not with team” designation, and his nameplate remained above his locker despite his obvious absence.

The extent of communication between Rozier and the Heat organization since October remains unclear. He reportedly sent congratulatory text messages to team members following Bam Adebayo’s outstanding 83-point performance against Washington, but has had no known contact with the team otherwise.

The suspicious betting activity surrounding Rozier’s March 2023 performance against New Orleans was immediately flagged by sportsbooks that day. While the NBA conducted its own investigation at the time, league officials found no evidence to prevent him from continuing to play. The current federal probe is separate from that earlier inquiry.

In the game in question, Rozier started for Charlotte and performed well during his 9½ minutes on the court, recording five points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. This statistical combination in a first quarter has occurred only twice in his professional career.

Rozier left that game citing foot discomfort and did not return. Charlotte has not publicly revealed whether team officials knew about any federal investigation into their player’s activities.

During his NBA career with Boston, Charlotte and Miami, Rozier has maintained a 13.9 points per game average. He suited up for 95 games during his time with the Heat.

Ticket sales for the Atlanta Dream have exploded following the team’s blockbuster trade earlier this week that brought Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky to Atlanta.

According to a Thursday social media post from StubHub, fan interest reached unprecedented levels after the trade was announced.

“Atlanta Dream ticket demand spiked 15x after trading for Angel Reese, the largest single day spike in franchise history,” the company wrote on their X social media account. “The Angel Reese Effect is real.”

The Sky sent Reese to Atlanta on Monday in exchange for the Dream’s first-round draft selections in both 2027 and 2028, plus the ability to exchange second-round picks in 2028.

The 23-year-old forward has dominated the boards during her brief WNBA career, topping the league in rebounds for both of her professional seasons. She pulled down 13.1 rebounds per contest in 2024 and 12.6 during her rookie campaign, establishing the two highest single-season rebounding averages in league history.

In just 64 career games, Reese has achieved 49 double-doubles. The two-time All-Star selection put up 14.7 points per game this past season, an improvement from her 13.6 scoring average as a first-year player in 2024.

DALLAS (AP) — The intensity level between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild reached playoff heights with their first-round Western Conference series still a week away.

The Central Division rivals, who have already secured their playoff matchup, delivered a physical preview of what’s to come in the postseason during Dallas’ 5-4 victory Thursday night.

“That’s probably exactly what you’re going to expect. Guys finishing hits, taking hits to make plays,” said Jason Robertson, who netted his 42nd goal of the season with 9:25 remaining to secure the win for Dallas.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan agreed with the assessment. “You knew there was going to be some emotion in the game. They’ve been trying to hunt us down for months, and it’s given them some fuel,” he said.

Dallas rallied from a two-goal deficit thanks to contributions from Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, and Colin Blackwell, who each recorded a goal and assist. The victory pushes the Stars to 106 points, establishing a four-point lead over Minnesota for home-ice advantage in their upcoming series. Both clubs have three regular-season contests remaining before the playoffs begin.

The physical nature of the game was evident in the penalty statistics, with officials calling 12 roughing infractions — split evenly between the teams — along with numerous other altercations involving multiple players.

“Every time these two teams play each other it always is a hard-fought battle,” said Wild coach John Hynes, whose squad saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. “You saw some emotion in the game, and I think that is to be expected.”

Dallas will face only Eastern Conference opponents in their remaining games, beginning with Saturday’s home finale against the New York Rangers before traveling to Toronto. The Stars conclude the regular season at Buffalo, which has ended a franchise-record 14 seasons without playoff qualification.

Minnesota’s schedule keeps them in the Western Conference, starting with a road game at Nashville and finishing at home versus Anaheim — both teams still battling for playoff positioning. The Wild will also visit St. Louis between those contests.

Kirill Kaprizov led Minnesota’s offensive attack with two power-play goals, bringing his season total to 45 and tying his franchise record with 19 power-play tallies.

Kaprizov gave the Wild a 2-1 advantage with 16 seconds left in the opening period, scoring just 14 seconds into the man advantage. He extended Minnesota’s lead to 3-1 in the second period with another quick power-play strike, finding the net only 16 seconds into the penalty.

After Dallas tied the game, Ryan Hartman’s power-play goal with nine seconds remaining in the middle frame put Minnesota ahead 4-3.

However, the Wild couldn’t hold their lead. They suffered their first regulation defeat since March 2024 when leading entering the final period, ending a remarkable 61-0-4 record in such situations.

Minnesota had one final opportunity to tie the game after Rantanen took a slashing penalty with 2½ minutes left, but couldn’t convert even after pulling goaltender Filip Gustavsson for an extra attacker.

“How we played, we should have gotten a better result. I felt like we were playing very good,” Gustavsson said. “We went 2-2 against them.”

The season series between these teams began with Dallas winning 5-2 in their home opener on October 14. Minnesota captured both games on their home ice, winning 5-2 on December 11 and taking a 2-1 overtime decision on March 21.

The Stars may face a significant concern heading into the playoffs after defenseman Miro Heiskanen left the game with a lower-body injury following a hard check into the boards by Hartman late in the first period.

Gulutzan had no immediate update on Heiskanen’s condition but indicated the defenseman would miss the next game. “We’ll have him looked at tomorrow and the next day,” said Gulutzan when asked about potential playoff availability. “Honestly, I don’t know, but any time there’s an injury, especially your top guys, it’s concerning.”

Similar to how underdog teams have become scarce in March Madness, smaller colleges are seeing fewer of their players selected in the NFL draft.

The culprits are NIL deals and the transfer portal, which together have created a talent pipeline flowing toward major conference schools.

The Power Four conferences – SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 – control college football through superior revenue streams, television contracts and financial resources.

These advantages are increasingly drawing top athletes away from smaller programs.

“Jerry Rice still gets drafted by the 49ers, but I don’t know that it’s from Mississippi Valley State today,” said Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, referencing the Hall of Fame receiver’s legendary rise from a small school. “That’s where he started, but I think it may be from — pick a big school.”

The NCAA basketball tournament once regularly showcased unknown programs from remote locations that captured national attention and destroyed tournament brackets. However, for the first time since the field expanded in 1985, all 16 Elite Eight teams last year came from major conferences, including the Big East. This pattern repeated in the most recent tournament, indicating that the transfer portal is consolidating elite talent at well-funded institutions.

This basketball trend is now appearing in football recruiting and development.

The numbers tell the story: Just 24 players from non-major conferences were drafted in 2024, continuing a steep decline from 70 such selections in 2022. The figure dropped to 38 in 2023 before reaching last year’s low of 34.

Even these statistics include players from traditionally strong programs outside major conferences. Last year’s two first-round picks from non-power schools were Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, chosen sixth by Las Vegas, and North Dakota State lineman Grey Zabel, selected 18th by Seattle.

Boise State has consistently produced NFL talent, with seven draft picks since 2021, while North Dakota State has captured 18 national titles, including 10 FCS championships since 2010 and eight Division II crowns.

Other 2024 selections came from schools like Alabama A&M, Central Arkansas and Western Kentucky.

The NCAA implemented its name, image and likeness policy in summer 2021, allowing athletes to earn money from their personal brands. Soon after, rule changes permitted multiple transfers while maintaining immediate eligibility under specific conditions.

Athletes like Jeanty and Zabel continue reaching the draft – they’re just more likely to come from established football programs now.

This year’s draft from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh could see even fewer small-school names called, as only 17 of the 319 combine invitees represented non-power conference programs.

Notable exceptions include Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, rated by NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah as the draft’s 16th-best prospect, and San Diego State defensive back Chris Johnson, ranked 40th by Jeremiah.

This shift has altered how NFL organizations approach college scouting, with fewer trips to smaller campuses.

“I think as you set your schedule for where you want your scouts to spend their most time, I think even in the last couple of years, you want them more in those places, concentrated areas like we talked about,” explained Broncos general manager George Paton. “Not that there’s not going to be good players in some of these other smaller schools.”

The difference is that many talented players now transfer to major conferences, where they access better financial opportunities, increased visibility and stronger personal branding possibilities.

Paton discovered one of the decade’s best small-college gems when he selected Wisconsin-Whitewater guard Quinn Meinerz in the third round of 2021.

Among 37 smaller-school draftees that year, Meinerz quickly became one of the league’s premier guards, famously wearing a gold paisley suit to sign his $80 million contract extension in 2024. He has since earned consecutive first-team All-Pro selections.

Despite playing “for the love of the game” in Division III’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Meinerz attracted NFL attention.

“There’s a pretty good scouting department across the entire NFL,” Meinerz noted, “and they’ll come find you.”

While that remains true, scouts increasingly find their targets concentrated within Power Four conference boundaries.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A moment of pure frustration at Augusta National has put Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre in hot water both literally and figuratively during Thursday’s opening round of the Masters Tournament.

MacIntyre displayed his middle finger toward the course after watching his approach shot find the water hazard fronting the 15th green. Standing at 3-over-par at the time, the Scottish player’s troubles were just beginning. His next attempt from the drop zone suffered the same watery fate, spinning backward off the firm green surface.

The disastrous sequence resulted in a quadruple-bogey 9, pushing MacIntyre to 7-over for the tournament. Additional struggles on the 17th hole with another bogey left him at 8-over 80 for the day. His woes continued into Friday’s second round with a double-bogey on the opening hole, placing him at 10-over and well outside the projected cut line.

Tournament officials may review MacIntyre’s gesture for possible disciplinary measures, as such conduct violates professional golf’s standards of sportsmanship.

The 15th hole, typically among Augusta National’s more manageable scoring opportunities, proved treacherous for multiple players due to exceptionally dry and firm course conditions. Thursday’s field averaged 74.65 strokes, with the par-5 15th playing to a 5.12 average — the only par-5 to play above par.

Patrick Reed experienced similar misfortune when his well-struck 7-wood approach bounced off the green and rolled into the water near the 16th hole. Reed attributed the outcome to unfortunate bounces on the concrete-hard putting surface. Gary Woodland narrowly avoided disaster, watching his second shot roll dangerously close to the same watery grave.

Veteran Fred Couples endured perhaps the day’s most painful experience at the 15th. Sitting comfortably at 2-under and inside the top-10, Couples watched in disbelief as two consecutive approach shots rolled back into the hazard, matching MacIntyre’s quadruple-bogey 9. A subsequent double-bogey on 16 contributed to his 78.

“I’ve played I don’t know how many rounds. I’ve never done that, hit it in the water going for the green. Never hit a 90-yard shot in the water and then followed up with another one,” Couples explained. “I’ve played 41 years here. I’ve never done that.”

“It was kind of like a shot I can handle, but I wasn’t even trying to handle it. I was just trying to hit it 30 feet right. No one is going to hit it in there five feet I don’t think. The greens are like concrete. The course was really, really good.”

Adam Scott also found the water with his 15th-hole approach but demonstrated better course management. Rather than dropping in the same location, Scott utilized the designated drop area forward of the hazard, pitched to the back portion of the green, and limited the damage to a single bogey.

PHILADELPHIA — When Philadelphia Flyers supporter Mike Culin decided his struggling hockey team needed divine assistance, he abandoned conventional lucky charms for a celestial strategy: presenting Pope Leo XIV with a personalized Flyers uniform during a family vacation to Italy.

“I thought, what are you doing? That jersey is expensive,” recalled Culin’s spouse, Christine. “Do you honestly believe you’ll manage to reach the Pope and give him this? But he had confidence.”

Few have endured more heartbreak than Flyers supporters over the past fifty years, but Mike Culin never lost his belief, whether in hockey or in heaven.

When the opportunity arose, Culin prepared for the ultimate play — an attempt to somehow deliver the Flyers jersey bearing “Pope Leo” on the nameplate and number 14 (with respect to current No. 14 Sean Couturier) from Essington, Pennsylvania, to Vatican City and into the possession of the first American-born pope, a Chicago native and devoted sports enthusiast.

The Culin family, along with their son Jesse Gennett, his spouse, and her parents, embarked on an Italian journey that included securing a position for the papal gathering in St. Peter’s Square. The group assembled on March 18 with jersey ready, hoping to attract Leo’s notice as he passed in the popemobile.

“Our objective was simply getting him to notice it,” Gennett explained. “We figured we needed to position ourselves near the edge because that would give us the best opportunity for him to spot it. And he did notice it. He gestured toward it and gave what looked like a thumbs up. Everything happened incredibly quickly.”

Christine Culin raised the jersey by gripping both shoulders so the pope would see it, while her daughter-in-law requested the jersey for a better opportunity to hand it over as the popemobile drew near.

“For you! For you! For you! For you!” Gennett’s wife, Valerie Giacobbe, shouted toward the papal procession.

Indeed, a security officer grabbed the jersey and transferred it to someone who examined the uniform while seated in the vehicle behind Leo. The families cheered with excitement and captured additional photos when the popemobile paused so Leo could bless some infants.

“He might have looked right and completely missed it,” Mike Culin noted. “Instead he looked left and spotted the jersey.”

Culin’s hope centered as much on securing some heavenly assistance for the Flyers’ final games as it did on gifting Leo a jersey.

“He believed the Flyers required that support,” Gennett said. “And they absolutely did.”

With this ultimate advantage, the Flyers defeated Anaheim that evening to begin a three-game victory run, contributing to a 9-4 performance during that period to enter the Eastern Conference playoff race. The white smoke signaling a playoff position hasn’t yet emerged from their home venue: The Flyers maintain a slim one-point advantage for the final spot with three contests remaining.

Certain Flyers supporters attribute papal influence to the winning streak, while more skeptical fans believe it was actually an arrival from above that triggered the turnaround: Canadian teenager Porter Martone, who has scored one goal and earned four points in his initial five NHL appearances.

The papal footage gained social media attention when Chris Gennett, a musician and Jesse’s brother, shared the 60-second family video on TikTok.

The pope, formerly Robert Prevost, is a recognized sports enthusiast, particularly of the Chicago White Sox. He was present at the 2005 World Series opening game against Houston in Chicago and witnessed his favorite team defeat the Astros 5-3 en route to a four-game championship sweep and their first title since 1917.

But what would prompt him to acknowledge a Flyers jersey? He did study at Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1977. Perhaps he attended some games at the former Spectrum and cheered for those combative Broad Street Bullies.

Culin mentioned he would have kept the jersey — a family friend hand-sewed the nameplate — as a novelty memento if Leo hadn’t noticed the gift.

Maybe during his private moments, Leo has tried on the size 52 jersey, just for enjoyment.

“He had to check if it fits, right?” Culin said with a chuckle.

A former major championship winner found himself banned from Augusta National Golf Club this week after breaking the venue’s well-known cell phone restrictions, according to reports from Golfweek.

Mark Calcavecchia, who captured the 1989 British Open title at Royal Troon, was removed from the golf course Wednesday, just one day before the Masters Tournament began. The 65-year-old golfer had been invited to attend as an honorary guest.

When contacted by Golfweek about the incident, Calcavecchia declined to elaborate on what happened.

“I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” Calcavecchia told the publication before terminating the conversation.

Neither Augusta National officials nor Calcavecchia’s representative provided immediate confirmation when Reuters reached out for comment via email.

Throughout his career, Calcavecchia secured 13 victories on the PGA Tour and participated in the Masters Tournament on 18 occasions. His strongest showing at Augusta came in 1988, when he placed second behind Britain’s Sandy Lyle.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell declared Friday that the league’s historic Australian debut will mark the beginning of a long-term commitment to the region, not just a single showcase event.

Speaking to media at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Goodell emphasized the NFL’s dedication to establishing a lasting presence in Australia ahead of the September 11 regular season matchup between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“There’s no question that we’re going to be playing here again,” Goodell stated during his visit to the famous venue. “Our view is that we’re coming here for the long term. We don’t come as a one-offs. This isn’t a circus.”

The commissioner stressed the league’s serious investment in the Australian market, adding: “This is something that’s an investment in this, in this market and we believe that, this is long term and will be great for the NFL long term.”

When asked about the possibility of another game occurring by 2027, Goodell responded with a simple “It might.”

Demand for the inaugural Australian NFL game has exceeded expectations at the 100,000-capacity stadium. Goodell revealed that pre-sales were so robust the league could have completely sold out the event early, but officials deliberately held back tickets to ensure American fans could still purchase seats.

The commissioner expressed optimism about potentially breaking the NFL regular season attendance record of 105,121 fans, set when Dallas hosted the New York Giants in Arlington in 2009.

“We’re going to have to talk and see how many more seats we can get in there,” Goodell explained. “So I think the record is slightly over 100… but it’s going to be darn close and maybe we can get there.”

While excitement builds in Australia, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan previously voiced concerns about opening the 2026 season with the lengthy international trip, questioning the benefits for his team’s preparation.

Goodell acknowledged the coach’s perspective as completely reasonable given his primary responsibility to win games.

“Coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach, but also someone who truly understands the importance of expanding our game globally. But his job is to win,” Goodell said.

The commissioner promised to create an exceptional experience for both teams while maintaining competitive integrity, noting: “We’re going to make it a great experience for the team… (but) they got to make sure that they’re able to continue the competitiveness because this game is real, this counts and they’ll go on a week two as soon as they leave here.”

The Utah Hockey Club secured their inaugural playoff appearance following a 4-1 triumph against Nashville on Thursday evening in Salt Lake City, with Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz each contributing one goal and one assist.

Utah’s postseason qualification became official when Anaheim defeated San Jose 6-1 later in the evening, guaranteeing the franchise a playoff spot in just their second year of existence.

Clayton Keller registered three primary assists for Utah, which extended their winning streak to five games. Goals also came from Kailer Yamamoto and Lawson Crouse, while Logan Cooley contributed two assists. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka recorded 29 saves in the victory.

Nashville received a goal from Erik Haula and 23 saves from Juuse Saros, but saw their four-game point streak (3-0-1) come to an end. The Predators now sit one point behind Los Angeles in the battle for the Western Conference’s second wild-card position.

Pittsburgh 5, New Jersey 2

The Penguins claimed their first playoff berth since 2022 with a road victory in Newark, highlighted by goals from Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakhov scored just nine seconds apart.

Additional scoring for Pittsburgh came from Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson. Chinakhov and Sidney Crosby each recorded two assists, while both Malkin and Karlsson added one helper apiece. Stuart Skinner turned aside 19 shots for the win.

New Jersey’s goals came from Paul Cotter and Jack Hughes, with Jake Allen making 25 saves in the losing effort.

Colorado 3, Calgary 1

Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each posted one goal and two assists as Colorado defeated Calgary at home to secure the top overall playoff seeding.

MacKinnon established a personal best with his 52nd goal of the campaign, Gabriel Landeskog also found the net, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves as the Avalanche captured the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history.

Calgary got Tyson Gross’s first NHL goal in his third career appearance and 38 saves from Dustin Wolf, but the Flames have now lost four of their last five contests (1-3-1).

Carolina 7, Chicago 2

Logan Stankoven recorded two goals and one assist while Mark Jankowski scored twice as the visiting Hurricanes dominated Chicago.

Carolina moved two points clear of Buffalo for Eastern Conference home-ice advantage. Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes while William Carrier earned three assists. Taylor Hall added a goal and assist, with K’Andre Miller and Sean Walker also scoring.

Chicago suffered their seventh defeat in eight games (1-6-1). Anton Frondell scored twice for the Blackhawks, Louis Crevier contributed two assists, and Spencer Knight made 15 saves.

Ottawa 5, Florida 1

Fabian Zetterlund found the net twice, Jake Sanderson recorded two assists, and Linus Ullmark stopped 22 shots as Ottawa moved closer to playoff qualification with a home victory over Florida.

Drake Batherson, Artem Zub, and Claude Giroux also scored for Ottawa, which completed a successful 4-1 homestand and maintained a three-point cushion over the Islanders and Red Wings for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. The Senators also closed within two points of idle Boston for the first wild-card position.

Jesper Boqvist scored with 5:43 remaining for Florida to prevent the shutout, beating Ullmark with a late goal. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves on 27 shots.

New York Islanders 5, Toronto 3

Matthew Schaefer matched the rookie record for defenseman goals (23) as the Islanders, playing their first game under new head coach Peter DeBoer, defeated visiting Toronto.

Calum Ritchie contributed a goal and assist while Tony DeAngelo returned from injury to register two assists as New York ended a four-game losing streak. Ilya Sorokin made 13 saves.

Toronto received goals from Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan, and Morgan Rielly. Artur Akhtyamov stopped 39 of 44 shots in his NHL debut.

Detroit 6, Philadelphia 3

Dylan Larkin completed a hat trick and added an assist to power Detroit past visiting Philadelphia in dominant fashion.

Alex DeBrincat became the first Red Wings player to reach 40 goals in a season since Marian Hossa in 2009. Moritz Seider tallied one goal and four assists while Patrick Kane contributed a goal and two assists for Detroit, which had struggled with seven losses in their previous nine games (2-6-1).

Porter Martone scored and assisted for Philadelphia, which had won three consecutive games entering the contest. Christian Dvorak and Luke Glendening also scored for the Flyers.

Buffalo 5, Columbus 0

Colten Ellis recorded 37 saves for his first career shutout in Buffalo’s home victory over Columbus.

Josh Doan scored twice while Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, and Rasmus Dahlin also found the net for the first-place Sabres, who won their third straight and maintained a two-point lead over Montreal in the Atlantic Division. Josh Norris and Logan Stanley each contributed two assists.

Jet Greaves made 19 saves for Columbus, which fell to 1-6-1 in their last eight games as their playoff hopes took a potentially fatal blow.

Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 1

Juraj Slafkovsky scored with 1:04 left in the third period as host Montreal edged Tampa Bay in a tight contest.

Cole Caufield reached the 50-goal milestone for Montreal. Suzuki recorded two assists, Slafkovsky added a goal and assist, and Jakub Dobes made 17 saves.

Darren Raddysh scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 19 shots for Tampa Bay, which has lost three straight and trails second-place Montreal by two points and first-place Buffalo by four in the Atlantic Division.

Winnipeg 3, St. Louis 2

Mark Scheifele reached 99 points for the season with two assists as Winnipeg captured their third consecutive victory at St. Louis.

Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, and Jonathan Toews scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves as Winnipeg kept their slim playoff hopes alive. The defeat virtually eliminated St. Louis from postseason contention.

Dylan Holloway recorded a goal and assist for St. Louis. Colton Parayko also scored, and Jordan Binnington stopped 31 shots.

Seattle 4, Las Vegas 3 (Shootout)

Rookie Berkly Catton led a comeback from a two-goal third-period deficit and scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout as Seattle kept their faint playoff hopes alive against visiting Las Vegas.

Jared McCann and Bobby McMann also scored in regulation while Vince Dunn contributed two assists for the Kraken, who snapped a six-game winless streak (0-5-1). Joey Daccord made 31 saves and stopped four of five shootout attempts.

Mark Stone scored twice, Brett Howden also tallied, and Adin Hill stopped 30 shots for the Golden Knights, who suffered their first loss in five games under new coach John Tortorella. Vegas remains tied with Anaheim for second in the Pacific Division, both teams one point behind Edmonton.

Dallas 5, Minnesota 4

Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Colin Blackwell each recorded a goal and assist in Dallas’s comeback victory over visiting Minnesota. The matchup served as a postseason preview, as both teams will meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs’ first round.

Cameron Hughes scored his first career goal while Esa Lindell added two assists for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shots.

Minnesota received two goals from Kirill Kaprizov and a goal plus assist from Quinn Hughes. Ryan Hartman also scored, Mats Zuccarello contributed three assists, and Matt Boldy added two helpers. Filip Gustavsson made 15 saves.

Los Angeles 4, Vancouver 1

Adrian Kempe scored twice and Anton Forsberg stopped 24 of 25 shots as Los Angeles significantly boosted their playoff chances with a victory over visiting Vancouver.

Trevor Moore and Joel Armia found the net while Artemi Panarin recorded two assists for the Kings, who moved past Nashville in the race for the Western Conference’s final wild-card berth.

Marcus Pettersson scored and Nikita Tolopilo made 22 saves for Vancouver, which extended their losing streak to four games.

Anaheim 6, San Jose 1

John Carlson’s first career hat trick led Anaheim to a convincing victory over visiting San Jose.

Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano provided the remaining goals as the Ducks ended a six-game winless streak (0-5-1). Beckett Sennecke, Pavel Mintyukov, Troy Terry, and Mikael Granlund each contributed two assists, while Lukas Dostal made 18 saves.

Shakir Mukhamadullin scored and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 24 shots for San Jose, which has now lost consecutive games.

San Diego shortstop Xander Bogaerts delivered a dramatic grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday evening, lifting the Padres to a thrilling 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The marathon game reached its climax after Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the final frame with a sacrifice bunt, advancing automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third base. Colorado reliever Valente Bellozo (0-1) then chose to intentionally walk both Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado, loading the bases for Bogaerts. The veteran infielder made the Rockies pay, driving a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for his second long ball of the campaign.

Padres reliever David Morgan (1-0) earned the victory after tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings without surrendering a hit. Colorado threatened in the top of the 12th when they moved their go-ahead run to third base, but Willi Castro was thrown out at home plate on Brenton Doyle’s ground ball to second baseman Cronenworth.

Both clubs managed to score single runs in the 10th and 11th innings before San Diego’s explosive finish.

In other MLB action Thursday:

Twins 3, Tigers 1

Minnesota’s Brooks Lee delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single through the right side in the eighth inning, helping the Twins complete a four-game sweep of Detroit. Josh Bell contributed three hits and a solo homer for Minnesota. Garrett Acton (1-0) captured his first major league victory with two innings of one-run relief work, while Eric Orze notched his first save. Detroit’s Gleyber Torres provided their only run as the Tigers extended their losing streak to five games.

Athletics 1, Yankees 0

Oakland pitcher Jeffrey Springs dominated New York with a near no-hitter, allowing just one hit across seven brilliant innings in the Athletics’ 1-0 road victory. Springs (2-0) carried his no-hit attempt into the seventh before Ben Rice broke it up with a single. Max Muncy’s triple and Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI single provided the game’s only run, giving Oakland their first series victory over the Yankees since April 2016.

White Sox 2, Royals 0

Chicago ended their lengthy road struggles against Kansas City with a 2-0 triumph, snapping a 14-game losing streak at Kauffman Stadium. Anthony Kay (1-0) struck out six batters over 5 2/3 innings, while Colson Montgomery’s RBI double and Luisangel Acuna’s sacrifice fly provided the offense. The White Sox had won just twice in their previous 25 games in Kansas City, with their last victory coming in September 2003.

Diamondbacks 7, Mets 1

Arizona erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, capped by Jorge Barrosa’s RBI triple, to defeat New York in the series finale. Gabriel Moreno’s pinch-hit double tied the game before Alek Thomas drove in the go-ahead run. Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed one run over six innings for the Diamondbacks, who improved to 7-3 following their season-opening sweep by the Dodgers.

Marlins 8, Reds 1

Miami’s Owen Caissie and Javier Sanoja combined for six hits and five RBIs to power the Marlins past Cincinnati and earn a split of their four-game series. Max Meyer (1-0) scattered four hits over five innings for his first victory, while Cincinnati’s Rhett Lowder (1-1) saw his impressive early-season numbers take a hit, surrendering eight hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The New York Knicks maintained their impressive home court dominance Thursday evening, defeating the Boston Celtics 112-106 at Madison Square Garden to push their home winning streak to six consecutive games.

Josh Hart delivered a standout performance with 26 points, while Jalen Brunson contributed 25 points along with 10 assists to lead the Knicks’ offensive attack.

The contest remained competitive until the final moments, with Boston cutting the deficit to just three points at 109-106 following a Nikola Vucevic basket with 35.6 seconds remaining on the clock. However, Hart responded with a crucial three-pointer that stretched New York’s advantage to six points with only 15.2 seconds left to play. Hart connected on five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc, including two critical shots in the game’s final minute.

Karl-Anthony Towns provided additional support for the Knicks with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The victory keeps New York in position to potentially overtake Boston and secure the second seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Boston’s offense was paced by Jayson Tatum, who recorded 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. Payton Pritchard contributed 23 points, while Baylor Scheierman added 20 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting performance from three-point range. The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown, who was sidelined due to an Achilles injury.

In other NBA action Thursday:

Rockets 113, 76ers 102

Kevin Durant posted a game-leading 29 points and connected on a pivotal late three-pointer that helped Houston withstand a fierce comeback attempt by Philadelphia at home.

Houston extended their winning streak to eight games, though they had to endure a tense finish after watching a 28-point lead shrink to just three points. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson each contributed 19 points for the Rockets.

Philadelphia, now losers of three straight games, competed without Joel Embiid, who underwent emergency appendectomy surgery earlier Thursday. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points, while VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

Raptors 128, Heat 114

Brandon Ingram exploded for 38 points, including 23 in the opening half, as Toronto defeated Miami at home to complete a season sweep of the Heat and climb to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

RJ Barrett supported Ingram’s effort with 22 points for Toronto, while Collin Murray-Boyles achieved a perfect shooting night en route to 17 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley chipped in 13 and 11 points respectively.

Bam Adebayo rebounded from a poor showing earlier this week by posting 24 points and 11 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro contributed 15 points, and Davion Mitchell added 15 points with 11 assists.

Bulls 119, Wizards 108

Tre Jones poured in 31 points, Collin Sexton added 27, and Leonard Miller achieved a career-best 26 points as Chicago secured a road victory over Washington.

Jones shot efficiently at 9-of-14 from the field and perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line for the Bulls, who used a strong third-quarter finish to defeat Washington for the second time in three days. Miller, who made 11 of 14 field goal attempts, also grabbed 11 rebounds for his second double-double in three contests.

Washington rookie Will Riley collected 23 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Julian Reese posted 16 points and 15 rebounds. Leaky Black and Anthony Gill each scored 14 points for the short-handed Wizards, who dressed only the league-minimum eight players.

Pacers 123, Nets 94

Reserve forward Obi Toppin posted a season-high 26 points and nine rebounds as Indiana took early control and cruised to a comfortable victory over Brooklyn.

Toppin, the lone available player from Indiana’s NBA Finals run last season, shot 11-of-14 from the field in just 19 minutes of action. Micah Potter added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, who shot 52 percent from the field, scored 80 points in the paint, and dominated the boards 66-43.

E.J. Liddell paced Brooklyn with career-highs of 26 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 10-of-16 from the field while setting personal scoring bests for the third consecutive game. Rookie Ben Saraf contributed 19 points and Tyson Etienne added 14.

Lakers 119, Warriors 103

LeBron James recorded 26 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds as Los Angeles ended a three-game skid with a road victory over Golden State in San Francisco.

Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on efficient 9-of-11 shooting, and Jake LaRavia contributed 16 points for the Lakers, who moved into a tie with Houston for the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Both teams trail Denver by one game. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. each added 12, and Bronny James scored 10.

Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams each led Golden State with 17 points. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer, and Malevy Leons contributed 12 points apiece, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II scored 10. Bassey also grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.

The Los Angeles Lakers broke out of their recent slump in impressive fashion Thursday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 119-103 in San Francisco behind a stellar performance from LeBron James.

James put together a dominant stat line with 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, leading the Lakers to their first victory after dropping three consecutive games. The win improved Los Angeles to 51-29 on the season, creating a deadlock with Houston for the fourth position in the Western Conference standings. Both clubs trail Denver by just one game, as the Nuggets hold a 52-28 record.

The Lakers seized control early in the final period, transforming a nine-point advantage into a commanding lead with an explosive 24-6 scoring burst to open the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton provided excellent support with 21 points on efficient 9-of-11 shooting, while Jake LaRavia contributed 16 points to the balanced offensive attack.

Several other Lakers players made meaningful contributions to the victory. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, while both Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 points each. Bronny James reached double figures with 10 points, helping Los Angeles capture the season series against Golden State with a 3-1 record.

For the Warriors, Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams shared scoring honors with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each tallied 12 points, with Seth Curry adding 11 and Gary Payton II contributing 10. Bassey also dominated the boards with a season-best 13 rebounds, while Leons achieved a career-high point total.

The loss continued Golden State’s recent struggles, marking their fifth defeat in six games and cementing their position as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, where they will participate in the play-in tournament. Their record now stands at 37-43.

Both teams dealt with significant absences due to injuries and rest. Golden State was without Stephen Curry (right knee injury management), Kristaps Porzingis (illness/knee), Will Richard (back) and Gui Santos (pelvic contusion), forcing them to use their 41st different starting lineup this season. The Lakers also missed key players including Luka Doncic (hamstring), Austin Reaves (oblique), Jaxson Hayes (foot) and Marcus Smart (ankle).

LeBron James established the tone early, scoring 12 points in the opening quarter as Los Angeles built a 28-23 lead. The Lakers maintained their advantage at halftime, holding a 53-49 edge after shooting an impressive 59.5% from the field. James had already accumulated 18 points by the break.

The third quarter saw Bronny James connect on a three-pointer with 1:38 remaining to extend the Lakers’ lead to 82-67, though Golden State managed to close the period with six consecutive points. However, Los Angeles completely took over in the fourth quarter, making their first 10 field goal attempts, including four three-pointers, to put the game away.

LeBron James capped his excellent night by shooting 11-for-17 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc before taking a seat on the bench with 6:05 left in the game and his team holding a comfortable 106-81 advantage.

The Los Angeles Kings significantly enhanced their postseason prospects Thursday evening, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 at home behind a stellar two-goal performance from Adrian Kempe and outstanding goaltending from Anton Forsberg, who turned away 24 of 25 shots.

Trevor Moore and Joel Armia also found the back of the net, while Artemi Panarin contributed two assists in the victory that propelled Los Angeles past Nashville in the battle for the Western Conference’s final wild-card playoff spot.

The triumph puts the Kings at 85 points with only four regular season contests remaining, giving them a slim one-point advantage over the Predators, who suffered a 4-1 defeat to Utah earlier Thursday. Los Angeles also holds a crucial game in hand over Nashville in the tight playoff race.

For Vancouver, defenseman Marcus Pettersson managed their lone goal while netminder Nikita Tolopilo recorded 22 saves in the loss, extending the Canucks’ losing streak to four games.

Los Angeles addressed recent concerns about slow starts by coming out aggressively against Vancouver, striking early when Kempe converted a one-timer through Tolopilo’s legs just 89 seconds into the contest, finishing off a feed from Brandt Clarke.

The Canucks drew even at 14:17 of the opening frame on a fortunate deflection when Pettersson’s wide slap shot caromed off Los Angeles defenseman Brian Dumoulin’s skate and found its way into the net.

However, the Kings quickly reclaimed their advantage just 91 seconds later following a neutral zone turnover forced by Jared Wright’s hit on Vancouver forward Jake DeBrusk. Scott Laughton advanced the puck into the attacking zone before setting up Armia, who beat Tolopilo glove-side to restore the lead.

Kempe doubled his tally and reached a team-high 34 goals for the season with just 29 seconds remaining in the middle period, deflecting Joel Edmundson’s pass while cutting through the slot area as Los Angeles capitalized on another Vancouver miscue in their defensive zone.

Los Angeles native Moore capped the scoring at 9:17 of the final period when a long-range shot deflected off Vancouver defenseman Elias Pettersson’s stick, then bounced off Moore’s shoulder before crossing the goal line to complete the 4-1 victory.

The two teams will face each other one final time during the regular season’s closing week, wrapping up their four-game series for the year.

Las Vegas Aces standout Jackie Young is poised to break new ground in women’s professional basketball, with reports indicating she’ll become the league’s first player to earn more than $1 million per season.

According to ESPN sources on Thursday, the 28-year-old guard is finalizing a one-year agreement valued at $1.19 million with the defending champion Aces. This figure represents the highest possible salary for players who don’t qualify for the league’s top-tier maximum contract of $1.4 million.

The historic agreement ensures Young remains in Las Vegas rather than entering free agency. During the 2025 season, the four-time All-Star contributed 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, playing a crucial role in the Aces capturing their third championship title in four seasons.

Young’s professional journey began when Las Vegas selected her as the top overall pick in the 2019 draft following her standout career at Notre Dame. She inked a contract extension with the franchise in May 2024. Her impressive resume includes four All-Star selections, two All-WNBA honors, and the 2022 Most Improved Player award.

Beyond her WNBA success, Young has excelled on the international stage, capturing Olympic gold medals in both 3×3 basketball at the 2020 Tokyo Games and traditional 5-on-5 competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also helped Notre Dame claim a national championship in 2018.

With Young’s return now secured, Las Vegas will focus on retaining other key players, including four-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP A’ja Wilson, who has expressed interest in staying with the team, along with six-time All-Star guard Chelsea Gray.

NEW YORK — An 18-year-old rookie for the New York Islanders has reached a historic milestone, equaling the NHL’s all-time record for goals scored by a first-year defenseman. Matthew Schaefer found the back of the net for the 23rd time this season during Thursday night’s game, matching the benchmark established by Hall of Fame player Brian Leetch.

The record-equaling score occurred 9 minutes and 39 seconds into the second period, putting the Islanders ahead 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in what became a 5-3 victory for New York. Schaefer managed to slip the puck between the legs of goalie Artur Akhtyamov after receiving a feed from Tony DeAngelo.

When asked about being compared to Leetch, Schaefer expressed amazement at the achievement. “It’s crazy. You don’t really think about that stuff,” Schaefer said. “But obviously when it gets brought up it’s crazy to think. It’s definitely an honor to see some of those guys and what they’ve done.”

The teenage defenseman is putting together one of the most impressive debut campaigns ever seen from someone playing his position in professional hockey. Currently sitting second on his team’s scoring chart with 59 points, Schaefer has demonstrated exceptional offensive skills from the defensive zone.

Thursday’s tally marked his first goal since a March 21 matchup against Montreal, breaking a recent scoring slump while adding yet another achievement to his already impressive first-year statistics.

New Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer was clearly impressed after witnessing Schaefer’s performance in person for the first time. “Watching him from the bench, live, it’s just, wow, what a player,” DeBoer said. “I watched him a lot on video as we were scouting for the Olympics. To see him live like that, at the age he’s at, and how dynamic he is, both ends of the rink, defensively, in particular. I know the offensive stuff, but for a young player how defensively aware he is and how much he works at the defensive piece of the game too. He’s a really, really special player.”

Chosen as the top pick in last year’s draft, Schaefer joined the professional ranks after dealing with injuries during his final junior hockey season, yet quickly established himself as an impact player. He became the youngest defenseman in league history to register a point in his first NHL appearance and has continued breaking age-related records throughout the season.

Schaefer now sits just one goal away from surpassing Leetch, who established the current record during the 1988-89 season and went on to capture the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Schaefer is widely considered the leading candidate for this year’s same award.

NEWARK, N.J. — Pittsburgh hockey fans will finally get to experience playoff excitement again after a lengthy wait.

The Penguins secured their return to the postseason Thursday evening with a victory over New Jersey, breaking a three-year absence from playoff competition. Prior to this drought, the franchise had reached the playoffs for 16 straight seasons, with their last miss occurring during Sidney Crosby’s first year in 2005-06. That remarkable run included three Stanley Cup championships.

“That’s why you play — that’s the best time of year,” Crosby said. “I know how hard it is. I think I understand that. We had some tough ones where it came down to the last day and didn’t get in, and you don’t ever know. But I thought right from camp, we’ve had those intentions and had that belief.”

The season featured significant ups and downs, including a difficult eight-game losing streak in December followed by two separate six-game winning streaks during the winter months. With the Eastern Conference playoff picture remaining unclear through late March, Pittsburgh has captured five victories in six games since March 30 to secure their spot.

“A couple weeks ago (we realized) it’s really in our hands (because we) play a lot of the teams in it,” defenseman Connor Clifton said. “We figured it was going to work itself out, and first and foremost it’s about us and getting points and we’ve done that, so it’s been good.”

The playoff qualification comes as an unexpected achievement. Sportsbooks had Pittsburgh listed as 6-1 longshots to make the postseason before the season began, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Many viewed this campaign as potentially the final opportunity for the veteran core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who after 20 seasons together hold the record as the longest-serving trio of teammates in North American professional sports.

However, first-year head coach Dan Muse has validated general manager Kyle Dubas’s decision to hire him from relative obscurity, having spent five seasons as an assistant under Peter Laviolette with Nashville and the New York Rangers. Taking over from two-time Cup champion Mike Sullivan presented significant challenges, but Muse has excelled in his debut as an NHL head coach.

“He’s been great: Calm there behind the bench, and he’s just a really personable guy, easy to talk to away from the rink,” forward Justin Brazeau said. “Any time you create that atmosphere in here, it’s not too tense or anything like that. I think guys are just willing to go out there and play free.”

The team has benefited from contributions across all age groups. Center Ben Kindel, selected 11th overall in last year’s draft, earned a roster spot at just 18 years old. Defenseman Erik Karlsson excelled at age 35. Crosby maintained his point-per-game pace for a remarkable 21st straight season, despite missing time due to an injury that prevented his Olympic participation.

“It takes everybody,” Crosby said. “Everybody has had a part in this. Obviously it’s a team game, but especially with this group: With the injuries and all the different guys in and out, everybody’s contributed to us getting there.”

Muse, echoing Crosby’s sentiments, recognized the team’s playoff potential during training camp preparations.

“I just saw the competitive nature of the group,” Muse said. “There’s ebbs and flows in every season, but I think this group has just continued to grow. Enjoy it for a little bit, a minute, and then it’s just continuing that preparation. It’s a big step for the group. I’m really proud of these guys, happy for these guys, the staff, everybody involved. The players have done a great job with it throughout the year. We talked about earning things at the beginning of the year. This group earned it.”

AUGUSTA, Georgia – Spanish golfer Jon Rahm entered this week’s Masters Tournament as one of the hottest players in professional golf, but his stellar LIV Golf form failed to translate to Augusta National on Thursday.

The defending Masters champion endured a brutal opening round, shooting 6-over-par 78 without recording a single birdie. Rahm appeared visibly frustrated as he navigated the challenging course where he claimed victory just one year ago.

“It’s a hard golf course,” said Rahm, reflecting on his disappointing performance at the venue where he captured the 2023 green jacket. “Some of the players might have been able to manage a respectable round, but when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it’s just not an easy one.”

The two-time major winner has been in exceptional form on the LIV Golf circuit this season, leading the individual standings with one victory and three second-place finishes across five tournaments. However, none of that momentum carried over to Thursday’s round.

Rahm’s troubles began early, accumulating four bogeys on the front nine. His round completely unraveled at the par-five 13th hole, where what should have been a birdie opportunity turned into a devastating double-bogey.

From 176 yards out, Rahm’s approach shot sailed into the azaleas, and despite an extensive search, his ball could not be located. After taking a penalty drop, he chipped his next shot to within 32 feet of the pin but required three putts to complete the hole.

“I still don’t know what happened, honestly,” Rahm explained regarding his wayward second shot at the 13th. “To get so lucky off the tee, to have an eight-iron in my hand, I don’t know, that ball came out 20 – about 10 yards left, 20 feet higher, and hooking in a way that I didn’t expect.”

“To make such a mistake from what could have been a good birdie look, it’s a big problem. It’s probably the part I’m the most upset at today.”

Among the 10 LIV Golf players competing in the 91-man field, Rahm was widely considered to have one of the strongest chances for success this week. Instead, he finished Thursday tied for 73rd place, trailing co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns by 11 strokes.

Despite the disappointing start, Rahm remains optimistic about his chances, drawing on his experience of overcoming poor opening rounds at Augusta National. In 2023, he began his eventual championship run with a four-putt double bogey on the first hole. Last year, he opened with a 3-over 75 before ultimately finishing tied for 14th.

“I’ve done that a few times,” Rahm noted about his ability to recover from slow starts at the Masters.

“But it still sucks to be in this position, to need a Herculean effort the next two days to give myself a chance to maybe sniff having a chance to win. It’s just frustrating.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Golfers competing in the 2026 Masters are preparing for what could become one of the most challenging tournaments in recent memory, as dry weather conditions give course officials complete control over how difficult they want to make Augusta National.

Shane Lowry from Ireland, who shot 2-under-par 70 in Thursday’s opening round, believes the tournament could reach new levels of difficulty. “I think this could be the toughest Masters we’ve played in a while,” Lowry explained. “You look at the forecast. They can do whatever they want with the golf course this weekend.”

“I think over the last few years we’ve had a day every year where it’s been raining or it’s been heavy rains. It’s kind of helped us a little bit, but I think before the week is out, it’s going to get very, very crusty around here,” Lowry added.

The challenging conditions were already evident during the first round when Patrick Reed, sitting at 4-under, hit what appeared to be a perfect 7-wood shot on the par-5 15th hole. Despite landing on the green, the ball bounced over and rolled into the water hazard 40 yards beyond.

Despite experiencing that unfortunate break, Reed welcomes the prospect of increasingly demanding course conditions. “They could make this place really, really hard if they wanted to,” Reed stated. “I wouldn’t be surprised. We have the best players in the world here. Why not? Challenge us and make it difficult, because it’s one of these golf courses, though, if you hit quality golf shots, you’re going to get rewarded for it.”

“If it’s going to firm up and it’s going to get faster and faster,” Reed explained further, “you’re just going to have to hit quality golf shots and know where you are going to hit the ball.”

Thursday’s opening round statistics revealed the course’s growing difficulty, with only the par-5 holes (excluding the 15th) playing under par. The seventh hole proved most challenging, averaging 4.42 strokes. Six of the most difficult holes were located on the back nine, including the final two holes which tied as fourth-most difficult at 4.33 strokes each.

As the day progressed, scoring became increasingly difficult, with the first-round average finishing at 74.65.

Several top contenders, including Lowry, Reed, and defending champion Rory McIlroy, benefited from morning tee times on Thursday but will face afternoon conditions on Friday when the course is expected to be at its most unforgiving. McIlroy, who shares the lead at 5-under 67 with Sam Burns, will tee off in the penultimate group at 1:44 p.m.

The Northern Ireland golfer has adapted his equipment strategy for these demanding conditions, switching to a softer golf ball that provides additional spin and better stopping power on firm greens.

“I’ve said for the last few years that I’ve started to really relish that type of golf. I really want to excel at that type of golf,” McIlroy commented. “When these greens get fast — last year they got really fast and firm on Sunday — but I think you’re going to see that for the next three days.”

“There’s still opportunities to shoot really, really good scores,” McIlroy concluded. “Look at Justin Rose last year on the final day. But it takes a very, very good, solid round of golf to do that.”

AUGUSTA, Georgia – An 18-year-old amateur golfer experienced all the expected challenges of his Masters debut at Augusta National, plus one unexpected wardrobe malfunction that kept everyone laughing.

Mason Howell, a high school student who holds the U.S. Amateur championship title, was paired with last year’s Masters winner Rory McIlroy for Thursday’s opening round. The teenager described the day as both a learning opportunity and an enjoyable experience, despite shooting a five-over 77.

“Rory is awesome. We had a great walk today,” Howell shared with media following his round.

The young golfer admitted that pre-round anxiety got the better of him initially. “I was on the first tee and couldn’t feel my arms,” he explained.

Adding to the drama was Howell’s baseball cap, which refused to stay put during his swings. The hat flew off three separate times throughout the round, beginning with his very first tee shot when excitement and aggressive play combined to create the wardrobe issue.

“I was going to swing out of my shoes to see if I could cover that right bunker,” Howell said. “It was pretty funny.”

While his initial drive ended up in the wrong fairway – landing on the ninth hole instead – Howell said sharing a laugh with McIlroy afterward helped calm his nerves. He managed to save par on both opening holes and noted his driving accuracy improved throughout the day.

The pairing provided valuable lessons for the amateur, as he watched McIlroy demonstrate the strategic thinking that separates major champions from other players. Howell observed how the Northern Ireland native made smart decisions when in difficult positions and avoided turning small mistakes into bigger problems.

“He does a great job knowing where to miss,” Howell noted. “There are some things I can learn going into tomorrow.”

Even when facing challenges, including putting struggles on the fourth hole, Howell maintained a positive attitude with his caddie and left the course feeling optimistic about future rounds.

Looking ahead to Friday’s second round, he identified key areas for improvement: hitting more greens in regulation and exercising patience. He also plans to address his equipment issue with a simple adjustment.

“We might just tighten it up one button,” he said, referring to his troublesome hat.

MINNEAPOLIS — A frightening collision between two Detroit Tigers outfielders sent center fielder Parker Meadows to the hospital Thursday during their game against Minnesota.

The 26-year-old Meadows suffered a head injury when he crashed into teammate Riley Greene as both players chased down a shallow fly ball hit by Josh Bell in the eighth inning. Medical staff transported Meadows off the field via cart for immediate medical evaluation.

The collision occurred when Greene, playing left field, called for the ball while Meadows was also moving toward it from center field. Despite Meadows attempting to pull back at the final moment, his face struck Greene’s head with significant force, causing both players to fall to the ground.

Following the impact, Meadows remained on his back appearing stunned and barely responsive, with his arms extended upward and visible bleeding on his face. After several minutes, medical personnel helped him sit upright before assisting him to his feet and onto the medical cart.

Detroit’s organization has not yet provided an update regarding Meadows’ medical status or the extent of his injuries.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid received a diagnosis of appendicitis and is set to have surgical treatment on Thursday in Houston, according to an announcement from the team.

The surgery is scheduled for the same day the 76ers are set to face the Houston Rockets on the road.

Philadelphia officials stated that additional information regarding Embiid’s condition will be shared when deemed necessary.

Currently sitting in eighth place within the Eastern Conference standings, the 76ers remain positioned to qualify for the play-in tournament.

This season has seen Embiid participate in only 38 games due to various health concerns. His most recent absence came during Saturday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons, where he was sidelined due to a right oblique injury, ongoing injury management protocols, and illness. Throughout the entire season, the star center has been unable to participate in consecutive games during back-to-back scheduling.

Oakland Athletics right fielder Brent Rooker was forced to exit Thursday’s matchup against the New York Yankees after experiencing right flank discomfort during his opening inning plate appearance.

The injury occurred when Rooker swung at a changeup from Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers, fouling the ball off with the count at 0-2. Rooker immediately showed signs of distress, grimacing and appearing to favor his back area before being examined by manager Mark Kotsay and team medical staff, who ultimately removed him from the contest.

Oakland officially disclosed the injury during the fourth inning of play.

Lawrence Butler stepped in to replace Rooker in the third position of the batting order. Butler struck out looking on the following pitch, with the at-bat officially recorded under Rooker’s statistics.

The previous evening, Rooker had delivered the game-winning hit for Oakland, connecting on a sacrifice fly against David Bednar in the ninth inning that secured a 3-2 victory on Wednesday.

This season, Rooker has struggled at the plate with a .146 batting average, though he has contributed two home runs and eight RBIs. His most impressive performance came during Sunday’s dramatic 12-10 extra-inning triumph over Houston, where he drove in six runs on two homers, including a walk-off three-run blast that ended the contest in the 10th inning.

NEW YORK — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will take the court at Madison Square Garden Thursday evening, marking his first appearance at the venue since suffering a devastating Achilles tendon rupture during last year’s postseason.

The Celtics will be shorthanded for their matchup against the New York Knicks, as teammate Jaylen Brown has been sidelined with left Achilles tendinitis.

Boston can clinch the Eastern Conference’s second seed with a win Thursday night, an achievement many considered unlikely given they expected to play most of the season without their star forward.

Tatum’s injury occurred on May 12 during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when he collapsed on the court in the final quarter of New York’s victory. The Knicks ultimately eliminated the defending champion Celtics in that series.

Following Thursday morning’s practice session at MSG, Tatum shared his emotions with reporters, describing feelings of “nervousness, anxiousness. All the things you probably would expect.”

When asked about his approach to handling the emotional return, Tatum responded: “I think it’s just deciding to face the challenge head-on and put my uniform on.”

Since returning to action on March 6, Tatum has appeared in 15 contests, posting averages of 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Following Tuesday’s home win against Charlotte, he admitted he wasn’t “thrilled to go back and play” at the famous Manhattan arena.

“Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me,” Tatum explained.

During Tatum’s extended recovery period, Brown stepped up with an outstanding campaign for the Celtics. The All-Star guard is posting 28.8 points per game across 70 appearances this season.

The NBA handed down a $25,000 penalty to the Orlando Magic on Thursday after the team improperly handled their injury reporting requirements.

According to league officials, the Magic incorrectly reported guard Anthony Black’s availability before their Monday matchup with the Detroit Pistons. The team’s original injury report marked Black as unavailable to play, but he ultimately took the court during the game.

The 22-year-old guard contributed 14 points during his 15 minutes of action in Orlando’s dominant 123-107 win over Detroit.

In his third NBA season, Black has posted averages of 15.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds across 62 appearances, including 40 games as a starter.